Horst Rittel

Horst Wilhelm Johannes Rittel
Born(1930-07-14)July 14, 1930
Berlin, Germany
DiedJuly 9, 1990(1990-07-09) (aged 59)
Heidelberg, West Germany
Known forWicked Problems, Issue-Based Information Systems, Design Theory
TitleProfessor
SpouseAnita
Academic work
DisciplineArchitecture, Planning, Design Theory
InstitutionsUlm School of Design Germany, University of California at Berkeley Washington University in St. Louis University of Stuttgart

Horst Wilhelm Johannes Rittel (14 July 1930 – 9 July 1990) was a design theorist and university professor. He is best known for popularizing the concept of wicked problem,[1] but his influence on design theory and practice was much wider.[2]

His field of work is the science of design, or, as it also known, the area of design theories and methods (DTM), with the understanding that activities like planning, engineering, and policy making are included as particular forms of design.

In response to the perceived failures of early attempts at systematic design, he introduced the concept of "second generation design methods"[3] and a planning/design method known as issue-based information system (IBIS) for handling wicked problems.

  1. ^ Churchman, C. W. (1967). Wicked problems. Management Science, 14(4), B-141 and B-142.
  2. ^ Rith, C and Dubberly, H, "Why Horst W J Rittel Matters", Design Issues, Vol 23, No 1, pp. 72-91
  3. ^ Rittel, H., 1984, "Second-Generation Design Methods", in "Developments in Design Methodology", N. Cross (Editor), John Wiley & Sons, UK pp. 317-327.