That quote is completely vacuous and uninteresting.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) -the·o·ry
Spelled Pronunciation[thee-uh-ree, theer-ee]
–noun, plural -ries.

1. a coherent group of general propositions used as principles of explanation for a class of phenomena: Einstein's theory of relativity.
2. a proposed explanation whose status is still conjectural, in contrast to well-established propositions that are regarded as reporting matters of actual fact.
3. Mathematics. a body of principles, theorems, or the like, belonging to one subject: number theory.
4. the branch of a science or art that deals with its principles or methods, as distinguished from its practice: music theory.
5. a particular conception or view of something to be done or of the method of doing it; a system of rules or principles.
6. contemplation or speculation.
7. guess or conjecture.

[Origin: 1590–1600; < LL theōria < Gk theōría a viewing, contemplating, equiv. to theōr(eǐn) to view -ia -y3]

—Synonyms 1. Theory, hypothesis are used in non-technical contexts to mean an untested idea or opinion. A theory in technical use is a more or less verified or established explanation accounting for known facts or phenomena: the theory of relativity. A hypothesis is a conjecture put forth as a possible explanation of phenomena or relations, which serves as a basis of argument or experimentation to reach the truth: This idea is only a hypothesis.

I like the quote, and similar ideas were taught in my college architecture studios, though some of my prof.s called them "design concepts"--I see them as the same thing.

From Princeton's lexical database (http://wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=theory)

Noun
S: (n) theory (a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena) "theories can incorporate facts and laws and tested hypotheses"; "true in fact and theory"

S: (n) hypothesis, possibility, theory (a tentative insight into the natural world; a concept that is not yet verified but that if true would explain certain facts or phenomena) "a scientific hypothesis that survives experimental testing becomes a scientific theory"; "he proposed a fresh theory of alkalis that later was accepted in chemical practices"

S: (n) theory (a belief that can guide behavior) "the architect has a theory that more is less"; "they killed him on the theory that dead men tell no tales"

We practiced it to dissuade future designers from designing buildings, rooms, objects, etc., just to fulfill their egos--we'd build theories based on function, aesthetics, environment, etc. We couldn't just put a door or window on a building just because the building needed a door or window. We'd go back to the theory we built around what we'd see looking in or out though those apertures, what elements they'd be subjected to throughout the year, what they'd specifically be used for, what materials would best be suited, etc.

My favorite example was when each of us was assigned an area throughout the College of Design building for which we had to build an architectural enhancement (installation piece). The piece had to fit that area specifically. One student built an awesome bench for his area, but his theory was proved false when our critic, one of Phoenix's best architects, picked his bench up and moved it to another area and made just as much sense.

Your experience and the idea that design would be based on function, aesthetics, environment, etc, is VERYinteresting; however, the statement quoted is a tuatology.

"Needless repetition of an idea, esp. in words other than those of the immediate context, without imparting additional force or clearness, as in 'widow woman.'"

'"To point to design is to point to theory" is self referential and provides no interesting or useful information.

Okay, talk about overthinking!

i'm staying out of this one. all i want to know is if anyone can please please please tell me where the cowhide rug in the pic with the white couch is from.

something similar was shown in a dj's living room awhile back and i've been on the hunt ever since.

thanks!

@kimg924, I can see where you're coming from. I did really poorly in philosophy class, but my memory of tautology is an A = A equation. My understanding of the quote is that design is an end, and theory is the means of getting there, almost like a sum of all parts. I think Wigley was a deconstructivist, so it seems to fit.

Hi, thanks for the comments, everyone. Just wanted to remind people that it's a quote, not a full paper. If you want to read the entire essay for a more complete explanation of the idea, follow the link at the bottom of the post.

The central thesis here is not tautological, in the same way that the assertion, "the sky is blue" is not tautological. The author is saying that "design" is the process by which the immaterial world of ideas undergoes transformation to the material world of objects, and it accomplishes this only via the framework created by "theory".

Wigley was lecturing at the Harvard Graduate School of Design and his expression of a complex set of ideas was correspondingly thoughtful and intelligent.

Let's not be so quick to jump to dismissive conclusions, like "tautology" or "uninteresting" -- which (to me) simply suggests that the person making that claim failed to fully comprehend the author's meaning.

I must have that cowhide rug in the first room shot. It looks like a FLOR panel, but I have never seen that on the FLOR website. Where can I find this?

cblls and Herringbone,

Google "cowhide rug." Zillions of links.

One amazing company stood out:
www.kylebunting.com

thanks almostad.... those are gorgeous rugs on that site.
but the rug i want is THAT one, specifically. with natural looking hide put together in a patchwork pattern.

herringbone, if you find it please let me know!

Looks like a pure rug to me...
http://store.purerugs.com/parkrugtricolor.aspx