Christopher Wolfgang Alexander quotes

Christopher Wolfgang Alexander. American-Austrian Architect and Design Theorist. (1936-2022)

Complexity

“Today more and more design problems are reaching insoluble levels of complexity... In spite of their superficial simplicity, even these problems have a background of needs and activities which is becoming too complex to grasp intuitively.”

• Source: Alexander, C. (1964). Notes on the Synthesis of Form. Harvard University Press. ISBN: 9780674627512. Retrieved 2018-03-29 from https://monoskop.org/images/f/ff/Alexander_Christopher_Notes_on_the_Synthesis_of_Form.pdf . Page 3.

• See Also:
  • Christopher_Wolfgang_Alexander_quotes
  • Christopher_Wolfgang_Alexander_quotes/Complexity

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Keywords: Complexity_quotes Design_quotes Intuition_quotes Today_quotes Problem_quotes Reach_quotes Insoluble_quotes Level_quotes Superficial_quotes Simplicity_quotes Background_quotes Need_quotes Activity_quotes Become_quotes Grasp_quotes

Design Information Overload

“Not only is the quantity of information itself by now beyond the reach of single designers, but the various specialists who retail it are narrow and unfamiliar with the form-makes' peculiar problems, so that it is never clear quite how the designer should best consult them.”

• Source: Alexander, C. (1964). Notes on the Synthesis of Form. Harvard University Press. ISBN: 9780674627512. Retrieved 2018-03-29 from https://monoskop.org/images/f/ff/Alexander_Christopher_Notes_on_the_Synthesis_of_Form.pdf . Page 4.

• See Also:
  • Christopher_Wolfgang_Alexander_quotes
  • Christopher_Wolfgang_Alexander_quotes/Design_Information_Overload

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Keywords: Design_quotes Information_quotes Specialization_quotes Quantity_quotes Reach_quotes Single_quotes Designer_quotes Specialist_quotes Retail_quotes Narrow_quotes Unfamiliar_quotes Form_quotes Make_quotes Problem_quotes Peculiar_quotes Clear_quotes Consult_quotes

Random Information Design

“The average designer scans whatever information he happens on, consults a consultant now and then when faced by extra-special difficulties, and introduces randomly selected information into forms otherwise dreamt up in the artist's studio of his mind.”

• Source: Alexander, C. (1964). Notes on the Synthesis of Form. Harvard University Press. ISBN: 9780674627512. Retrieved 2018-03-29 from https://monoskop.org/images/f/ff/Alexander_Christopher_Notes_on_the_Synthesis_of_Form.pdf . Page 4.

• See Also:
  • Christopher_Wolfgang_Alexander_quotes
  • Christopher_Wolfgang_Alexander_quotes/Random_Information_Design

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Keywords: Design_quotes Information_quotes Consultant_quotes Creativity_quotes Average_quotes Scan_quotes Difficulty_quotes Random_quotes Selection_quotes Form_quotes Dream_quotes Artist_quotes Studio_quotes Mind_quotes

Rapid Change

“At the same time that problems increase in quantity, complexity, and difficulty, they also change faster than before.”

• Source: Alexander, C. (1964). Notes on the Synthesis of Form. Harvard University Press. ISBN: 9780674627512. Retrieved 2018-03-29 from https://monoskop.org/images/f/ff/Alexander_Christopher_Notes_on_the_Synthesis_of_Form.pdf . Page 4.

• See Also:
  • Christopher_Wolfgang_Alexander_quotes
  • Christopher_Wolfgang_Alexander_quotes/Rapid_Change

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Keywords: Problem_quotes Size_quotes Complexity_quotes Fast_quotes Time_quotes Quantity_quotes Increase_quotes Difficulty_quotes Change_quotes

Negative Differences

“We should always expect to see the process of achieving good fit between two entities as a negative process of neutralizing the incongruities, or forces, which cause misfit.”

• Source: Alexander, C. (1964). Notes on the Synthesis of Form. Harvard University Press. ISBN: 9780674627512. Retrieved 2018-03-29 from https://monoskop.org/images/f/ff/Alexander_Christopher_Notes_on_the_Synthesis_of_Form.pdf . Page 24.

• See Also:
  • Christopher_Wolfgang_Alexander_quotes
  • Christopher_Wolfgang_Alexander_quotes/Negative_Differences

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Keywords: Design_quotes Incongruity_quotes Expectation_quotes Process_quotes Achieve_quotes Fit_quotes Entity_quotes Negative_quotes Neutralize_quotes Force_quotes Misfit_quotes

Negative Requirements

“If we think of the requirements from a negative point of view, as potential misfits, there is a simple way of picking a finite set. This is because it is through misfit that the problem originally brings itself to our attention.”

• Source:Alexander, C. (1964). Notes on the Synthesis of Form. Harvard University Press. ISBN: 9780674627512. Retrieved 2018-03-29 from https://monoskop.org/images/f/ff/Alexander_Christopher_Notes_on_the_Synthesis_of_Form.pdf . Page 26.

• See Also:
  • Christopher_Wolfgang_Alexander_quotes
  • Christopher_Wolfgang_Alexander_quotes/Negative_Requirements

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Keywords: Design_quotes Requirements_quotes Incongruity_quotes Think_quotes Negative_quotes Point_quotes View_quotes Potential_quotes Misfit_quotes Simple_quotes Pick_quotes Finite_quotes Problem_quotes Original_quotes Attention_quotes

Problems Worth Attention

“We cannot have a unitary of field description of a context and still have a design problem worth attention.”

• Source: Alexander, C. (1964). Notes on the Synthesis of Form. Harvard University Press. ISBN: 9780674627512. Retrieved 2018-03-29 from https://monoskop.org/images/f/ff/Alexander_Christopher_Notes_on_the_Synthesis_of_Form.pdf . Page 26.

• See Also:
  • Christopher_Wolfgang_Alexander_quotes
  • Christopher_Wolfgang_Alexander_quotes/Problems_Worth_Attention

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Keywords: Design_quotes Complexity_quotes Unitary_quotes Field_quotes Description_quotes Context_quotes Problem_quotes Attention_quotes

Flimsy Solution Conviction

“In the case of a real design problem, even our conviction that there is such a thing as fit to be achieved is curiously flimsy and insubstantial. We are searching for some kind of harmony between two intangibles: a form which we have not yet designed, and a context which we cannot properly describe. The only reason we have for thinking that there must be some kind of fit to be achieved between them is that we can detect incongruities, or negative instances of it.”

• Sourve: Alexander, C. (1964). Notes on the Synthesis of Form. Harvard University Press. ISBN: 9780674627512. Retrieved 2018-03-29 from https://monoskop.org/images/f/ff/Alexander_Christopher_Notes_on_the_Synthesis_of_Form.pdf . Page 26.

• See Also:
  • Christopher_Wolfgang_Alexander_quotes
  • Christopher_Wolfgang_Alexander_quotes/Flimsy_Solution_Conviction

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Keywords: Design_quotes Problem_quotes Confidence_quotes Incongruity_quotes Case_quotes Conviction_quotes Fit_quotes Achieve_quotes Curious_quotes Flimsy_quotes Insubstantial_quotes Search_quotes Kind_quotes Harmony_quotes Intangible_quotes Form_quotes Context_quotes Description_quotes Reason_quotes Thinking_quotes Detect_quotes Negative_quotes Instance_quotes

Time for Equilibrium

“Misfit provides an incentive to change; good fit provides none. In theory the process is eventually bound to reach the equilibrium of well-fitting forms. However, for the fit to occur in practice, one vital condition must be satisfied. It must have time to happen. The process must be able to achieve equilibrium before the next culture change upsets it again... The direct response is the feedback of the process. If the process is to maintain the good fit ... while the culture drifts, it needs a feedback sensitive enough to take action the moment that one of the potential failures actually occurs.”

• Source: Alexander, C. (1964). Notes on the Synthesis of Form. Harvard University Press. ISBN: 9780674627512. Retrieved 2018-03-29 from https://monoskop.org/images/f/ff/Alexander_Christopher_Notes_on_the_Synthesis_of_Form.pdf . Page 50-51.

• See Also:
  • Christopher_Wolfgang_Alexander_quotes
  • Christopher_Wolfgang_Alexander_quotes/Time_for_Equilibrium

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Keywords: Design_quotes Incongruity_quotes Change_quotes Equilibrium_quotes Schedule_quotes Time_quotes Feedback_quotes Misfit_quotes Incentive_quotes Fit_quotes Theory_quotes Process_quotes Bound_quotes Form_quotes Practice_quotes Vital_quotes Condition_quotes Satisfy_quotes Time_quotes Happen_quotes Achieve_quotes Before_quotes Culture_quotes Upset_quotes Direct_quotes Response_quotes Maintain_quotes Drift_quotes Sensitive_quotes Action_quotes Potential_quotes Failure_quotes Occur_quotes

Biased Decisions and Perceptions

“The self-conscious individual's grasp of problems is constantly misled. His concepts and categories, besides being arbitrary and unsuitable, are self-perpetuating. Under the influence of concepts, he not only does things from a biased point of view, but sees them biasedly as well. The concepts control his perception of fit and misfit — until in the end he sees nothing but deviations from his conceptual dogmas, and loses not only the urge but even the mental opportunity to frame his problems more appropriately.”

• Source: Alexander, C. (1964). Notes on the Synthesis of Form. Harvard University Press. ISBN: 9780674627512. Retrieved 2018-03-29 from https://monoskop.org/images/f/ff/Alexander_Christopher_Notes_on_the_Synthesis_of_Form.pdf . Page 70.

• See Also:
  • Christopher_Wolfgang_Alexander_quotes
  • Christopher_Wolfgang_Alexander_quotes/Biased_Decisions_and_Perceptions

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Keywords: Problem_quotes Bias_quotes Perception_quotes Incongruity_quotes Dogma_quotes Self_quotes Consciousness_quotes Individual_quotes Grasp_quotes Constant_quotes Misled_quotes Category_quotes Arbitrary_quotes Unsuitable_quotes Perpetuate_quotes Influence_quotes Concept_quotes Point_quotes View_quotes Control_quotes Fit_quotes Misfit_quotes End_quotes See_quotes Deviation_quotes Conceptual_quotes Lose_quotes Urge_quotes Mental_quotes Opportunity_quotes Frame_quotes Appropriate_quotes