Outlines a science for design that gives designers grounds on which to state their claims and validate their designs. This book builds an epistemological bridge between language/communication theory and human-centered conceptions of contemporary artifacts. It enables designers to partner with the traditional disciplines of engineering, and others.

Foreword, Introduction and Overview, Chapter 1. History and aim, Chapter 2. Basic concepts of human-centered design, Chapter 3. Meaning of artifacts in use, Chapter 4. Meaning of artifacts in language, Chapter 5. Meaning in the lives of artifacts, Chapter 6. Meaning in an ecology of artifacts, Chapter 7. Design methods, research, and a science for design, Chapter 8. Distantiations, Chapter 9. Roots in the Ulm School of Design?, References, Credits, Index, About the Author

“A brilliant book so superbly designed, encompassing theory and application. Klaus Krippendorff demonstrates his authority in the semantics of design with a bold inter-disciplinary approach. The book unveils a systematic design discourse, treating readers to rare critiques of established ideas and illustrative reviews of design cases. …it must be read by designers and non-designers alike.” -- Professor Halimahtun M. Khalid, Director, Institute of Design and Ergonomics Applications, University of Malaysia “An important contribution of philosophical discussion about design, the meaning of artifacts, and interesting topics concerning the “science of design” and design methods are offered … I recommended this book to all professionals and student involved in design and evaluation of interfaces … the author provides a foundation for a more in-depth understanding of user-centered design, especially artifacts.” — Abas Moallem, in HCI International News, No. 15, March 2006 “… the linguistic turn in philosophy he thoughtfully outlines a convincing teachable doctrine on how to make sense of things. … This book, itself an artifact, deserves a prominent place in any design canon … also strongly recommended it to academic colleagues, students, and practitioners. … will get its genuine meaning in use, it is hoped by reaching a broad network of stakeholders …” — Pelle Ehn, School of Arts and Communication Malmo University, Sweden, in Artifact, Vol. 1, 2006 “…a major contribution to design thinking. Klaus Krippendorff's philosophy addresses how we create and use artifacts in view of the meanings we give them. It builds a human and systematic foundation for professional design practice based on creative engagement with users and stakeholders. Krippendorff’s intellectual journey reflects the central themes in design and design research today, helping new designers think their way into the field. …” -- Professor Ken Friedman, Norwegian School of Management and Denmark's Design School “…a courageous outline for a concrete science for design that paradigmatically deviates from the natural sciences. It…offers designers a solid ground from which to justify their products and environments...proposes systematically human-centered design methods, and an epistemology for improving the world rather than re-searching it. …a major step into a fascinating future for all of us.” -- Professor Emeritus Shutaro Mukai, Former Director, Department of Science of Design, Musahino Art University, Tokyo, Japan “…takes design theory to a new level…Brilliantly building on Wittgenstein and generalizing classical accounts of affordances…This highly readable book is especially relevant to the challenges we face in designing in and for a global economy.” -- John Seely Brown, Former Chief Scientist, Xerox Corporation & Director of its Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) “… to formulate and describe scientifically he outlines a method that has changed noticeably in design theory since the 1980s. … encourages disciplinary discourse and creates fundamental new foundations of a science for design, which continues to suffer from the empty gossip about its inter-, trasn- and multidisciplinary nature. …” — In Books, Form 209/2006