Interactions - March/April 2010

principles upon which to build. To your early point, we are teaching the right things, but to the wrong people. We need to actively shift from emphasizing and supporting traditional K- 12 education focused on science and technology, to emphasize an education that embraces design—or, as Richard Buchanan describes it, the new liberal art of technological culture. This isn’t a business issue. It’s a much more fundamental issue of our societal priorities.

Richard: You’ve scoffed at much of what is happening with design thinking in the world of business during several of our café conversations, and I understand your skepticism. But while lasting interventions in business can take a lot of time and effort, you can teach an old dog new tricks. Examples are referenced in this issue by Chris Pacione, and Roger Martin and Jennifer Reil even provide guidance to overcome some of the business obstacles that thwart design-based, breakthrough innovations. I certainly agree on the need for policy and education changes in the U.S. and many other places. Pacione also agrees and emphasizes the difficulty in achieving such change, as well as change in business. But note he includes computer scientists among the design-literate (see Figure 2 in his article); NSF funding and STEM education aren’t necessarily solely promotions of linear and logical thinking. Design thinking happens within significant segments of those fields more often than the many recent discussions on the topic might lead one to believe.

Jon: I see only one major program funded by NSF—creativeIT—specifically dedicated to design and design thinking. But my larger point isn’t about funding or research; it’s that the adoption of design in business is one of many potential applications of design and design thinking, but it’s potentially the least relevant and appropriate, given the deep ties between design activities and culture. I’m not sure that methods of abductive reasoning can ever really achieve their potential in an environment entirely focused on short-term profitability. I’m speaking of and proposing a larger change, one that requires an acknowledgement that design is bigger than business and can exist without the corporation.

Human-
Computer
Interaction
Institute
Carnegie
Mellon
University Faculty Position in Design Research and Human
Computer Interaction

Our world-class interdisciplinary Human-Computer Interaction Institute at Carnegie Mellon University expects to fill a tenure-track faculty position, starting August 2010. We are especially interested in an extraordinary faculty member who will advance our interdisciplinary research in design dimensions of human computer interaction.

Applicants should have the terminal degree in a discipline such as (but not limited to) design, architecture, computer science, psychology, HCI, cognitive science, or anthropology. We seek an outstanding educator and researcher who designs systems and who also implements systems and/or performs rigorous empirical laboratory or qualitative field studies. The candidate must be able to significantly advance research and theory in design and HCI. We will consider both junior and senior candidates. For more departmental information see www.hcii.cmu.edu.

Review of faculty applications will begin November 1, 2009, and will be accepted through January 1, 2010, or up until the position has been filled. Your application should include your CV, a statement of your research and teaching interests, pointers to a portfolio, 1-3 representative papers, and the names, positions, and email addresses of three or more individuals who may be asked to provide letters of reference. All applications should indicate citizenship and, in the case of non-US citizens, describe your current visa status.