2016 New Design Method 新設計方法: C-K Design Theory / 周雅涵

在日新月異的時代，常常面臨要設計我們從來沒見過的產品，要如何運用創造力設計具有創意又合理的產品呢？這裡有一個理論方法可以參考。

CK Theory = Concept Knowledge Theory
CK Theory 顧名思義分為兩個區塊：概念和知識。運用簡單又有效果的模式，加上有邏輯的推理方式，產生具有創造力的想法概念。

Designing the unknown | C-K Theory Presentation
by CGS Mines ParisTech

CK Theory
（以下為原文的對照翻譯，若有出入請多指教><）

Characteristics 特色

· Very abstract, may be difficult to understand

十分抽象，可能不容易理解。

· Flexible

富有彈性。

· Simple to use

操作簡單。

· Not bounded to one field

不會被一種領域侷限。

CK Theory in a nutshell 簡而言之

The core idea of this framework is to separate concept and knowledge in two different spaces, and to keep in mind that the object of study never has invariant definitions and properties. For instance, the practitioner should not take for granted that a chair has legs or a surface to seat on. The definition of a chair may evolve to a more abstract thing like: “something that maintains the user in a vertical position effortlessly”.

CK Theory的核心想法就是將概念和知識分為兩個不同的空間，而且永遠記得研究中的物件的定義與屬性並不是不可變動的。舉例來說：不該理所當然的認為椅子是有椅腳支撐或有表面可以坐上去。對於椅子的定義可以用更抽象的概念例如：一種使用者可以維持垂直姿勢而不用費力的東西。

A concept is defined as a proposition that is neither true nor false. It might emerge from market needs, that is when a technical or market requirement is not satisfied by existing solutions/technologies. Basically you can remember that concept = idea. Concepts are gathered on the C-space.
Example: A chair without solid structure.

概念，是一種命題，沒有正確與錯誤的問題。它可能出現於市場需求，也就是當現有的解決方式與科技無法滿足技術與市場的需求。基本上可以記得concept = idea。概念們會集中匯聚在C-space中。
例子：一張沒有堅固結構的椅子

Knowledge is defined as the group of propositions with known logical status (we know if they are true or false): all that we (or the designer) know belongs to this. Knowledge is contained in the K-space.
Example: To be in equilibrium, an object (like a conventional chair) has to be isostatic.

知識，是一群命題，具已知的邏輯狀態（我們知道這是正確的或是錯誤的），所有我們（或設計師）所知道的都屬於此範疇。知識會在K-space中。
例子：為了平衡，一個物體（如一張傳統的椅子）承受的壓力必須是均等的。

Now that every proposition can put, stored, or categorized in one space or the other, we will define 4 operations that can be used between these spaces.

現在每個命題都可以被歸類在C-space或K-space中，我們可以定義四種操作方式能在這些空間之間交替使用。

Conjunction (C->K): When a concept/idea is tested in reality, we come to know whether the proposition is true or not (if the idea is feasible). Consequently, the propostion becomes part of the knowledge and leaves the concept space, resulting in an expansionof the K-space.

結合(C->K)：當一個概念/想法要在現實中測試時，我們會去了解這個命題是否正確（如果這個想法可行）。所以命題就會離開概念而來到知識的範疇，導致K-space的擴展。

Disjunction (K->C): This is the operation by which a new idea/concept can be generated from existing knowledge.

汲取(K->C)：一個新的概念與想法可以從現存的知識中發展而生。

Concept expansion (C->C): When an idea is conceived based on another idea, there is a concept expansion. It is important for concept expansion to support, incentive, visualize this process, and leave behind all consideration such as feasibility or other limitation. This expansion can be guided by other frameworks/tools.

概念的擴張(C->C)：可以建立在一個想法上而產生另一個新的想法，概念因此擴張。在概念擴展時，互相支持、激勵、視覺化這個過程，以及先不考慮可能的疑慮像是可行性或其他限制是十分重要的，這個擴張可以搭配其他的設計方法與工具來發想。

Knowledge expansion (K->K): This operation is the result of expansion of the knowledge by combination of it or new discoveries.

知識的擴張(K->K)：運用知識之間的連結以及新的發現來擴展知識領域。

OK OK! I got it, so how can I use this? 好！我懂了，那我應該怎麼使用呢？

1. Start expressing a market/technical need and write it in C-space. You will probably base your concept on existing knowledge (solution/situation). Take a lamp for instance: it’s bulky, needs to be activated, does not light around the corner, needs power supply, is fragile, expensive, and so on. A first idea/concept would be “an apparatus that light a great area while being very small.” As you can see the concept is relative and is not defined according to specifications (10 lumen, less than 150cm3).

開始表達一個市場或技術需求並寫在C-space中。你可能將你的概念建立在現有的知識（解決方式、情況）上。以檯燈為例：很笨重、需要被啟動、無法照亮角落、需要電力、脆弱、昂貴等等。一開始的想法概念可以是：『一個可以照亮大範圍並且體積很小的儀器。』你可以看到這個概念是相對的，並非依據規格定義（10流明，小於150立方公分）

2. Express the existing knowledge associated. The solution here is not a lamp but the combination of technologies/knowledge. For example: “light is the set of electromagnetic waves with wavelengths from 380nm to780nm”; “light in any medium travels along a straight line from the source to any point in that medium”, or “the light bulb as to be screwed into a support”

將現有知識用關連的方式表達。在這裡解決的方法不是檯燈而是科技與知識之間的互相結合。舉例來說：『光是電磁波波長範圍自380nm到780nm。』;『光在任何介質中會以直線方式從源頭到介質中的任何一點。』或『燈泡會被擰進一個支持的裝置內。』

3. With the knowledge, challenge the concept and formulate new ideas. we want the apparatus to light around the corner but “light in any medium travels along a straight line from the source to any point in that medium”, so we have 2 simple options: change the medium, or using multiple sources of light. We just generated 2 new concepts deviating from the previous one: “an apparatus that light a great area from multiple sources while being very small” and “an apparatus that light a great area using medium change to guide the light, and which is very small”. You don’t have to challenge your concepts with knowledge, you can expand your concept using any method you want.

這些知識挑戰了先前的概念並且規定了新的想法。我們希望這儀器可以照亮角落但『光在任何介質中會以直線方式從源頭到介質中的任何一點』，於是我們有兩個簡單的選擇：改變介質，或者使用多點光源。我們產生了兩個偏離一開始的新的概念：『一個用多點光源，可以照亮大範圍並且體積很小的儀器。』以及『一個運用介質的變化以引導光方向，可以照亮大範圍並且體積很小的儀器。』你不需要因為知識改變你的概念，你可以用任何方式擴展概念。

4. Proceed this way as long as you can: expand the two spaces by knowledge description and concept generation. Brainstorming and similar methods (see other frameworks!) might be used to enhance the efficiency of the concept expansion.

運用描述知識和產生概念這樣的方式盡可能擴展這兩個空間。也可以用Brainstorming和相似的方法來幫助概念的擴展。

5. When you have finished (or when you are satisfied with the current ideas), test your concepts in reality, to try to operate a conjunction. During this stage, you will probably need to look whether some technologies or principles do exist, which will result in a knowledge expansion. In such a case: oh surprise! new propositions in K-space are available, and so you can challenge again your ideas/concepts. (go back to point 3).

當你完成（或是當你滿意目前的想法），實際測試你的概念，嘗試操作結合。在這個階段，你可能需要查看這些科技或原則是否真的存在，這可能會讓你的知識領域擴展。如果是這樣的話：噢surprise! 新的命題可以被放到K-space中，於是你可以再次挑戰你的概念和想法（回到第3點）

6. If you have succeeded in operating a conjunction, you may have innovated! Congratulations. Otherwise try to redefine your market/technical need in a more abstract way and restart the process. For instance check that the vocabulary used does not refer to the existing solution, the case study: {object of study: a chair / original concept: “apparatus to seat on”} is a badly defined as “seating” refers to a position and “on” suggests there is something under the user. A modeling of the original concept in terms of functionality may help.

如果你成功地經營了結合，恭喜你，你可能創新了一項設計！否則，嘗試用更抽象的方式重新定義你的市場或技術需求然後重新開始這個過程。例如確認所使用的詞語並不涉及現有的解決方式。如一個命題：椅子/原始概念：『可以坐上去的設備。』並不是很好的定義，因為『坐』涉及一種姿勢，『上』指示了有東西在使用者的下方。在功能方面的原始概念模型可能有助於這樣的問題。