Theory
The Ulm model (scientific operationalism)
Explore in the Atlas →HfG Ulm's curriculum, consolidated under Maldonado from 1957, that recast design as an applied science integrating cybernetics, semiotics, information theory, ergonomics and operations research; the immediate ancestor of design methods and design thinking.
Pedagogy Knowledge Production
Details
- Introduced
- 1957
Referenced by
- Otl Aicher proposed
- Tomás Maldonado proposed
- Reflection-in-action reacted against
Sources
- Neves, Rocha and Duarte. “Computational Design Research in Architecture.” IJAC (2014).
- Maldonado, Tomás. Is the Bauhaus Relevant Today?. 1963.
- Lindinger, Herbert (ed.). Ulm Design: The Morality of Objects. MIT Press, 1991.
Cite this entry
First published May 2026Last revised Jul 2026
CLAD. "The Ulm model (scientific operationalism)." Atlas of Architectural Thought. CLAD, 2026. https://www.cl-ad.com.au/research/atlas/theory/ulm-scientific-design/. Accessed July 17, 2026.