Design paradigm and its development phases

Introducing the concept ‘paradigm’ of Kuhn, this paper brings up the concept ‘design paradigm’, then pointing out the similarities and dissimilarities between the Kuhn´s paradigm and design paradigm. Thinking about the motivity of design paradigm, this paper finds that design paradigm has three phases which are agricultural design paradigm, industrial design paradigm and post-industrial design paradigm. This paper expounds the characteristics of three design paradigm in the aspect such as the relationship of ‘human—product’, design foundation, design object and the common ideology of designers. Then the paper points out that design paradigm dominates product design, discussing design paradigm dominates the design foundation, design thought and design orientation. Especially, the replacement of different design paradigm has irreversibility, the replacement of new design paradigm and old one will inevitably lead to the revolution of product design.