Witnesses to Design: A Phenomenology of Comparative Design

Alan Blackwell is reader in interdisciplinary design at the Cambridge University Computer Laboratory, having prior qualifications in professional engineering, computing and experimental psychology. He has twelve years experience of designing industrial systems, electronic and software products, and is founder and co-Director, since 2001, of the Crucible network for research in interdisciplinary design.

Claudia Eckert is an assistant director and senior research associate in the Cambridge University Engineering Design Centre. Her particular interest lies in helping companies to improve their processes through a better understanding of design practice, including projects focusing on process modeling, process planning and change prediction for complex engineering processes.

Louis Bucciarelli is a professor of engineering and technology studies, Emeritus, at MIT, with joint appointments in the School of Engineering and MIT's Science, Technology and Society program. His research addresses the nature of engineering work, including a highly regarded ethnography of professional engineering practice, Designing Engineers (MIT Press, 1994).

Chris Earl is dean of faculty in mathematics, computing and technology at the Open University and professor of engineering product design. His research interests have focused on computational design, planning design and manufacture, comparative design and complexity in products and design processes.