Abstract
To justify the individuality of design as a discipline, researchers repeatedly separated it from other disciplines while underscoring the integration of design in those disciplines. We resolve this apparent paradox by recognizing that people have knowledge, abilities, and tasks that can be attributed to several disciplines. We emphasize a collaborative effect-centered understanding and execution of problem-solving rather than an individual and design-centered one to enable each person to perform to the best of their abilities. Therefore, we introduce the newly developed “effect method,” which, by researching defined interrelations between subjects (terms considered as single entities) and systems (terms considered as multipart entities), empowers people to identify and understand relevant problems and solution approaches. The interrelations are defined by effects to be prevented (problem) or achieved (solution). Based on this, the effect method enables the development of system-compatible solution concepts. As a result, each person's creativity, knowledge, and best abilities can contribute to the collaborative development of relevant solutions.