In looking at Professor Gasparski's paper about the PS (praxiological-systemic) approach to design it is an obligation to grasp and deal with our cultural differences. This is in addition to the difficulties we have between disciplines elsewhere in the world. It is typical of the Polish intellectual culture that there should be a theoretical introduction to the subject. Given the theory, many conclusions follow, whether about designing, the universality of design, or the nature of design education. In a way this derives philosophically from Descartes, although strong Platonic influences are to be detected, as well as more recent linguistic philosophy Modern Polish intellectual stimuli come (almost dia. metrically opposed) from their native excellence in the field of logic and the very special concern for 'praxiology' which was promoted by Kotarbinsid. Praxiology (the knowledge of practical activity) is a term rarely used in Anglo.Saxon literature. It is much better known and used in French. Within the praxiological framework, design is an important component - it is preparation for action. Theories of action within the Anglo-Saxon literature have tended to be rather abstract and have not ~ven much attention to design. The system component of the 'PS' title refers to the way in which the designer, the object to be designed, the design process and the design situation are linked together and provide the basis of a methodical approach tO the subject. Much of the paper is taken up with the prepare. tion of statements and definitions which lead to an 'ideal' model of the system. The model, in Gasparsld's terms, is 'constructed'. This is one way of tackling the very difficult problem of producing an adequate model of design. Within this model it is possible to see the development of theory about the difference between one design case and another. This is shown particularly in discussions about the problem- task.solution net. The work done by Gasparsid's group is within an organization that appears to have no parallel elsewhere. In UK terms it is rather like a general design research institute attached to a Royal Society which involves itself with industrial affairs as well as with science. This emphasizes a different approach, which may be revealing to the reader. The language employed may be unusual, the pres- entation unyielding, but an effort should be made to comprehend this significant alternative contribution. Praxiological-- systemic approach[ to design studies W. W. GASPARSKI Design Methodology Unit, Department of Praxiology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland The PS (praxiological-systemic) approach to design stud/es starts with a general methodological point of view and directs analysis towards finding out the conditions for efficient design. It considers the subject of design within the context of human activities and employs a systems approach. Practical consequences of PS concepts are also presented. During the 2000 years since the time Vitruvius 1' 2 wrote his book on design - probably the first in history - many and great changes have taken place in practical affairs (Note 1). Such changes have occurred in socioeconomic systems, in methods of production and in agriculture; technology has undergone tremendous changes, many diseases have been overcome, and human lifespan has been prolonged. All these changes, and many others, have taken place in an irregular way over the last two millenia, or during the period in which the ,Srtificial' has been with us (the so-called history of 'artificialization').3 Changes have become more frequent with the passing of time (see box). 4 Associated with them have been harmful and offensive features: pollution of the air and water, exploitation of inherited energy sources, irradiation of the atmosphere, excessive chemicals in food, and the deleterious socio- psychological effects of urbanization.These have come about from the lack of care given to the relevance of the consequences of change, This, in turn, has been caused by the failure of design and the knowledge of designing, the grasp of the essence of design, to keep pace with the changes in everyday life. The way in which change is involved in such matters depends upon basic knowledge (the theory of change,4 which deals with this, is postulated as a result of the PS approach). Much of the great extent of such change is at present not backed by sufficient knowledge. But, since the development of interest in systematic knowledge of human activity, many postulates and research programmes concerning it have been inspired. Those programmes which proved useful - whether from an intellectual or a practical point of view - have become transformed into new disciplines such as management science, the science of science and praxiology (also called the science of efficient action or general methology), s-7 The discipline which aims at integrating empirical and theoretical studies of design into some kind of 'designology' has been strongly connected with praxiology for the past 20 years,a The links are organic, since design is one of the preparatory stages of each deliberate activity. In complex social activity, design has been differentiated in functional, professional and institutional terms. According to the PS approach, the conceptual preparation for change and of other activites is a prime goal of design and expresses its social essence. Praxiology, almost from its beginning, has been interested in design since it is a feature which distinguishes the method of the so-called practical or applied sciences. 9-~s Design became a subject of systematic praxiological analysis in the last decade (Note 2) and studies on design produced the skeleton of a general methodology of design (Note 3), essentially a praxiological theory of design. ~'t7 The main parts of this theory will be discussed further. Studies on design approached in this way, through the art of solving practical problems, help to shape modern praxiology, is TOPICS IN THE PRAXlOLOGY OF DESIGN Subject and methods of research Theory is not discovered but built, and on this foundation the subject is defined. 19 As stated earlier, design is taken as vol 1 no 2 october 1979 0142-694X/79/020101-08 $02.00 © 1979 IPC Business Press 101