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The Origins and Evolution of Design : A Stage-Based Model

Mendoza-Collazos, Juan LU orcid ; Zlatev, Jordan LU and Sonesson, Göran LU orcid (2021) In Interdisciplinary Evolution Research 6. p.161-173
Abstract
Within a broader definition of design, as the conception and planning of everything that is artificial, the place of tools is central. With the help of cognitive semiotics in general and Donald’s theory of the evolution of the human mind in particular, we propose a stage model for the evolution of design, consisting of four stages: Proto-design, Simple design, Complex design, and Advanced design, some of which are further divided into substages. We argue that nonhuman animals are capable of Proto-design, but it is only with the advent of stone tool technology in hominins that we witness Simple design. The stages are individuated based on evidence from archaeology and cognitive science, but also on the particular semiotic resources that are... (More)
Within a broader definition of design, as the conception and planning of everything that is artificial, the place of tools is central. With the help of cognitive semiotics in general and Donald’s theory of the evolution of the human mind in particular, we propose a stage model for the evolution of design, consisting of four stages: Proto-design, Simple design, Complex design, and Advanced design, some of which are further divided into substages. We argue that nonhuman animals are capable of Proto-design, but it is only with the advent of stone tool technology in hominins that we witness Simple design. The stages are individuated based on evidence from archaeology and cognitive science, but also on the particular semiotic resources that are novel for each stage: mimesis-based gestures, speech, drawings, and polysemiotic communication. The model suggests both continuities and relative discontinuities in the evolution of design, and more generally, in human bio-cultural evolution. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Bio-cultural evolution, Tool-making, Cognitive semiotics, Design theory, Design semiotics, Derived agency, Agency
host publication
Biosemiotics and Evolution : The Natural Foundations of Meaning and Symbolism - The Natural Foundations of Meaning and Symbolism
series title
Interdisciplinary Evolution Research
editor
Pagni, Elena and Theisen Simanke, Richard
volume
6
pages
13 pages
publisher
Springer Nature
ISSN
2199-3076
2199-3068
ISBN
978-3-030-85264-1
978-3-030-85267-2
978-3-030-85265-8
DOI
10.1007/978-3-030-85265-8_8
project
The role of artefacts in relation to agency
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
a9ad1da7-1e0c-46c8-9bf6-bc35efa81269
date added to LUP
2022-03-15 16:36:50
date last changed
2022-03-16 02:34:10
@inbook{a9ad1da7-1e0c-46c8-9bf6-bc35efa81269,
  abstract     = {{Within a broader definition of design, as the conception and planning of everything that is artificial, the place of tools is central. With the help of cognitive semiotics in general and Donald’s theory of the evolution of the human mind in particular, we propose a stage model for the evolution of design, consisting of four stages: Proto-design, Simple design, Complex design, and Advanced design, some of which are further divided into substages. We argue that nonhuman animals are capable of Proto-design, but it is only with the advent of stone tool technology in hominins that we witness Simple design. The stages are individuated based on evidence from archaeology and cognitive science, but also on the particular semiotic resources that are novel for each stage: mimesis-based gestures, speech, drawings, and polysemiotic communication. The model suggests both continuities and relative discontinuities in the evolution of design, and more generally, in human bio-cultural evolution.}},
  author       = {{Mendoza-Collazos, Juan and Zlatev, Jordan and Sonesson, Göran}},
  booktitle    = {{Biosemiotics and Evolution : The Natural Foundations of Meaning and Symbolism}},
  editor       = {{Pagni, Elena and Theisen Simanke, Richard}},
  isbn         = {{978-3-030-85264-1}},
  issn         = {{2199-3076}},
  keywords     = {{Bio-cultural evolution; Tool-making; Cognitive semiotics; Design theory; Design semiotics; Derived agency; Agency}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{161--173}},
  publisher    = {{Springer Nature}},
  series       = {{Interdisciplinary Evolution Research}},
  title        = {{The Origins and Evolution of Design : A Stage-Based Model}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-85265-8_8}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/978-3-030-85265-8_8}},
  volume       = {{6}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}