Design choices have a back story shaped by people, culture, and ideas. Objects and places hold memories and experiences that help to shape someone, making design more thoughtful. This forces designers to think in a new way and take a compassionate approach when creating a design. Buchanan (1992) provides a foundation of theory that design isn't just about aesthetics, but also about human experiences, behaviors, and identities. Theory involves creating something greater than oneself that leaves a lasting impact. Theory pushes design to be more than aesthetics and more about how it serves the people within. Evaluation is vital to design theory because it allows one to step back, examine what is not successful, and determine how to improve the built environment, driving continuous improvement. Analyzing how culture and preferences influence design choices, strive to elevate design ideas to the next level, considering people, cultures, and ideas, and ultimately creating an enjoyable and intentional space. Designers must consider all the factors that affect design choices, including social, cultural, and environmental factors. Theory is just the beginning of understanding why design is important. Design shapes the experience within a space and can exclude communities, such as the ageing population. Theory reveals how urban expansion can create social, spatial, and environmental barriers that can limit one's mobility, reduce access, and weaken social ties. As cities expand, the aging population continues to self-isolate and feel loneliness. Emphasizes the need for design that fosters connection and belonging not only for the aging population but for generations to come.
Olive R. Gilbert (Wed,) studied this question.