Dissecting the anatomies of design theories and design principles: A synthesized design framework

Design theories and their principles are a powerful model from design science. They are the bridge between implicit, latent designs and the artifacts we produce to instantiate those designs. Yet what is the best way to develop and present a complete anatomy of a design theory and its design principles? Previous research on the anatomies of design theories and design principles provide a powerful foundation; both contribute unique components important in the development and description of a design. However, using both anatomies at the same time leads to irreconcilable issues in ontological clarity. These ontological issues may lead to confusion and difficulty in the development and communication of design theories and principles. I present a simplified unifying design framework that combines the unique components of each anatomy into one schema. This provides a useful, usable, and engaging framework for developing and presenting designs in design science and beyond.