Design rationale

High school (ages 12+)
Making & Design

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/design-rationale

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the core principle?Explicit documentation of the reasoning, assumptions, and constraints behind design decisions
2. What is the historical context?Emerged from theories on argumentation and planning, particularly concerning 'wicked problems'
3. Why do designers write down their reasoning?Writing down the reasoning helps everyone understand the choices, spot mistakes early, and keeps the project clear for future changes.
4. Who first talked about design rationale?W.R. Kunz and Horst Rittel were early thinkers who studied how to explain design decisions.

Argumentation-Based Structure: Organizing design decisions around logical arguments and justifications.
Wicked Problems: Complex, ill-defined problems with no single correct solution, often involving social or ethical dimensions.
Artifact: Any object, system, or product that is intentionally designed and created.