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Hierarchy of Complexity of Design Constraints
According to Bill Moggridge in Designing Interactions, the hierarchy of complexity of design constraints consists of six disciplines that designers must navigate as products and systems become more complex:
- Anthropometrics: Focuses on the physical dimensions and sizes of people.
- Physiology: Focuses on how the human body works and its mechanical functions.
- Cognitive Psychology: Focuses on how the mind works and processes information.
- Sociology: Focuses on how people relate to and interact with one another.
- Cultural Anthropology: Focuses on the human condition, cultural variations, and societal contexts.
- Ecology: Focuses on the environmental impact and interdependence of all living things.
As a design problem moves from simple physical interactions to complex, systemic service ecosystems, the constraints increase in complexity, requiring collaboration with specialists from these respective fields.
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Updated 2026-07-08
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Design Science