Eames: Design is a Method of Action
Transcript from an interview with Charles Eames on French Television 1972
What is your definition of “design?”
A plan for arranging elements in such a way as to
best accomplish a particular purpose. Is design an expression of art (an art form)?
The design is an expression of the purpose.
It may (if it is good enough) later be judged
as art. Is design a craft for industrial purposes?
No— but design may be a solution to some
industrial problems. What are the boundaries of design?
What are the boundaries of problems? Is design a discipline that concerns itself with
only one part of the environment?
No. It is a method of general expression?
No— it is a method of action. Is design a creation of an individual?
No— because to be realistic one must always
admit the influence of those who have gone
before. …or a creation of a group?
Often. Is there a design ethic?
There are always design constraints and these
usually include an ethic. Does design imply the idea of products that
are necessarily useful?
Yes— even though the use might be surely subtle. It is able to cooperate in the creation of
works reserved solely for pleasure?
Who would say that pleasure is not useful? Ought form to derive from the analysis of
function?
The great risk here is that the analysis may not
be complete.
What is your definition of “design?”
A plan for arranging elements in such a way as to
best accomplish a particular purpose. Is design an expression of art (an art form)?
The design is an expression of the purpose.
It may (if it is good enough) later be judged
as art. Is design a craft for industrial purposes?
No— but design may be a solution to some
industrial problems. What are the boundaries of design?
What are the boundaries of problems? Is design a discipline that concerns itself with
only one part of the environment?
No. It is a method of general expression?
No— it is a method of action. Is design a creation of an individual?
No— because to be realistic one must always
admit the influence of those who have gone
before. …or a creation of a group?
Often. Is there a design ethic?
There are always design constraints and these
usually include an ethic. Does design imply the idea of products that
are necessarily useful?
Yes— even though the use might be surely subtle. It is able to cooperate in the creation of
works reserved solely for pleasure?
Who would say that pleasure is not useful? Ought form to derive from the analysis of
function?
The great risk here is that the analysis may not
be complete.
Can the computer substitute for the
designer?
Probably, in some special cases, but usually the
computer is an aid to the designer. Does design imply industrial manufacture?
Some designs do and some do not—depending on
the nature of the design and the requirements. Is design an element of industrial policy?
A. Certainly; as in any other aspect of quality,
obvious or subtle, of the product. It seems that
anything can be an element in policy. Ought design to care about lowering costs?
A product often becomes more useful if the costs
are lowered without harming the quality. Does the creation of design admit constraint?
Design depends largely on constraints. What constraints?
The sum of all constraints. Here is one of the
few effective keys to the design problem—the
ability of the designer to recognize as many
of the constraint as possible—his willingness
and enthusiasm for working within these
constraints—the constraints of price, of size, of
strength, balance, of surface, of time, etc.; each
problem has its own peculiar list. Does design obey laws?
Aren’t constraints enough? Ought the final product to bear the trademark
of the designer? Of the research office?
In some cases, one may seem appropriate. In some
cases, the other, and certainly in some cases both. What is the relation of design to the world of
fashion (current trends)?
The objects of fashion have usually been designed
with the particular constraints of fashion in mind. Is design ephemeral?
Some needs are ephemeral. Most designs are
ephemeral. Ought it to tend towards the ephemeral or
towards permanence?
Those needs and designs that have a more
universal quality will tend toward permanence. To whom does design address itself: to the
greatest number (the masses)? to the specialists
or the enlightened amateur? To a privileged
social class?
To the need. Can public action aid the advancement of
design?
The proper public action can advance most
anything. After having answered all these questions,
do you feel you have been able to practice
the profession of “design” under satisfactory
conditions, or even optimum conditions?
Yes. Have you been forced to accept compromises?
I have never been forced to accept compromises
but have willingly accepted constraints. What do you feel is the primary condition for
the practice of design and its propagation?
Recognition of the need. What is the future of design?
(No answer)
