Axiomatic Design and Design Thinking in Humanities and Social Sciences in the 21^st Century

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge MA 02139, USA

^* e-mail: npsuh@mit.edu

Abstract

Since the Industrial Revolution (IR), science and technology have advanced at an ever-accelerating rate. In a mere 250 years since IR, advances in science and technology have changed nearly all aspects of humanity. Before IR, people and animals were used as the primary source of power and energy. After IR, steam engines and other power sources replaced human and animal power, which ultimately changed the economic and political structure of many nations and the world. Now, the world is undergoing socio-economic transformation due to information technology and will soon enter the age of biological revolution. These and other advances in science and technology are likely to accelerate, creating both opportunities and some unanticipated risks to humanity. To ascertain that the technological changes result in positive outcomes for humanity and society, more research in humanities and social sciences is needed so as to complement the advances being made in natural sciences and technology. The question raised in this paper is: “Can Axiomatic Design and design thinking be applied in the fields of humanities and social sciences so as to create imaginative societal solutions in the technology era?” Design examples are given that show how AD can be applied in non-technical fields.