Harold G. Nelson
Encyclopedia
Harold G. Nelson is an American architect
, consultant and systems scientist, Nierenberg Distinguished Professor of Design in the School of Design
at Carnegie Mellon University
, President of the Advanced Design Institute and Affiliate Associate Professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Washington
.
and received a B.Arch. in 1970. He continued to study architecture and ceramic design at the Technical University and Ateneum Fine Arts Academy in Finland, and received a M.Arch. in 1973 from University of California
. In 1973 he became a Licensed Architect in California. At the University of California he continued to study systems thinking
and received his Ph.D. in 1979. His dissertation focused on a systems approach to the impact on rural communities of large-scale resource development projects with an emphasis on value distribution assessment.
As a licensed architect in the State of California, Nelson worked as an assistant regional architect for Region Five of the U.S. Forest Service, and also worked as an architect in the private sector. In 1982 he started as Assistant Professor at the Texas Tech University
. In 1984 he worked for a year at the Montana State University
, and two years at the Saybrook Institute. From 1987 until 1999 he worked at the Antioch University
and since 2002 at the University of Washington
.
Nelson served for twelve years as the Director (Department Head) of the Graduate Programs in Whole Systems Design (WSD) at a national university. One program was recognized as among the Top Ten graduate programs in Organizational Development. Further he has been involved with diverse organizations including: non-profits and corporations, state and federal agencies, international governments, and the United Nations. He has consulted, or lectured in: Chile, Turkey, Finland, Sweden, Indonesia, and Australia. Presently, in 2008, he is working as an education consultant for universities, governmental agencies, and business organizations. For the past twenty years, while working as a researcher, consultant, and educator in design and systems science.
Nelson is co-founder in 1996, a Director and President of the Advanced Design Institute. He has been president of the International Society for the Systems Sciences
in 2000, a position previously held by such notable scholars as: Margaret Mead
, Ilya Prigogine
, Russell Ackoff, Sir Charles Geoffrey Vickers
and C. West Churchman
.
inquiry, complex organizational systems design, advanced design education in formal and informal settings, deep design/critique and advanced design postulation and axiom development. His focus is in two areas: the first is on the development of design competent organizations, and the second is on innovation leadership.
Articles, a selection:
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
, consultant and systems scientist, Nierenberg Distinguished Professor of Design in the School of Design
Carnegie Mellon School of Design
The Carnegie Mellon School of Design in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States is a degree granting institution and a division of Carnegie Mellon University's College of Fine Arts. The School of Design offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in either industrial design or communication design...
at Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
, President of the Advanced Design Institute and Affiliate Associate Professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
.
Biography
Nelson studied Architecture received at the Montana State UniversityMontana State University - Bozeman
Montana State University – Bozeman is a public university located in Bozeman, Montana. It is the state's land-grant university and primary campus in the Montana State University System, which is part of the Montana University System...
and received a B.Arch. in 1970. He continued to study architecture and ceramic design at the Technical University and Ateneum Fine Arts Academy in Finland, and received a M.Arch. in 1973 from University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
. In 1973 he became a Licensed Architect in California. At the University of California he continued to study systems thinking
Systems thinking
Systems thinking is the process of understanding how things influence one another within a whole. In nature, systems thinking examples include ecosystems in which various elements such as air, water, movement, plants, and animals work together to survive or perish...
and received his Ph.D. in 1979. His dissertation focused on a systems approach to the impact on rural communities of large-scale resource development projects with an emphasis on value distribution assessment.
As a licensed architect in the State of California, Nelson worked as an assistant regional architect for Region Five of the U.S. Forest Service, and also worked as an architect in the private sector. In 1982 he started as Assistant Professor at the Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
. In 1984 he worked for a year at the Montana State University
Montana State University - Bozeman
Montana State University – Bozeman is a public university located in Bozeman, Montana. It is the state's land-grant university and primary campus in the Montana State University System, which is part of the Montana University System...
, and two years at the Saybrook Institute. From 1987 until 1999 he worked at the Antioch University
Antioch University
Antioch University is an American university with five campuses located in four states. Campuses are located in Los Angeles, California; Santa Barbara, California; Keene, New Hampshire; Yellow Springs, Ohio; and Seattle, Washington. Additionally, Antioch University houses two institution-wide...
and since 2002 at the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
.
Nelson served for twelve years as the Director (Department Head) of the Graduate Programs in Whole Systems Design (WSD) at a national university. One program was recognized as among the Top Ten graduate programs in Organizational Development. Further he has been involved with diverse organizations including: non-profits and corporations, state and federal agencies, international governments, and the United Nations. He has consulted, or lectured in: Chile, Turkey, Finland, Sweden, Indonesia, and Australia. Presently, in 2008, he is working as an education consultant for universities, governmental agencies, and business organizations. For the past twenty years, while working as a researcher, consultant, and educator in design and systems science.
Nelson is co-founder in 1996, a Director and President of the Advanced Design Institute. He has been president of the International Society for the Systems Sciences
International Society for the Systems Sciences
The International Society for the Systems Sciences is a world-wide organization for systems sciences.- Overview :The initial purpose of the society was "to encourage the development of theoretical systems which are applicable to more than one of the traditional departments of knowledge."The idea...
in 2000, a position previously held by such notable scholars as: Margaret Mead
Margaret Mead
Margaret Mead was an American cultural anthropologist, who was frequently a featured writer and speaker in the mass media throughout the 1960s and 1970s....
, Ilya Prigogine
Ilya Prigogine
Ilya, Viscount Prigogine was a Russian-born naturalized Belgian physical chemist and Nobel Laureate noted for his work on dissipative structures, complex systems, and irreversibility.-Biography :...
, Russell Ackoff, Sir Charles Geoffrey Vickers
Charles Geoffrey Vickers
Sir Charles Geoffrey Vickers VC was an English lawyer, administrator, writer and pioneering systems scientist...
and C. West Churchman
C. West Churchman
Charles West Churchman was an American philosopher and systems scientist, who was Professor at the School of Business Administration and Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of California, Berkeley...
.
Work
Nelson's research interests are in the fields of complex systemsComplex systems
Complex systems present problems in mathematical modelling.The equations from which complex system models are developed generally derive from statistical physics, information theory and non-linear dynamics, and represent organized but unpredictable behaviors of systems of nature that are considered...
inquiry, complex organizational systems design, advanced design education in formal and informal settings, deep design/critique and advanced design postulation and axiom development. His focus is in two areas: the first is on the development of design competent organizations, and the second is on innovation leadership.
Publications
Nelson has written one book and more than twenty articles, and has given over 50 presentation world wide.- 2003. The design way : intentional change in an unpredictable world : foundations and fundamentals of design competence. With Erik Stolterman. Englewood Cliffs, N.J. : Educational Technology Publications.
Articles, a selection:
- 1994. "The Necessity of Being ‘Undisciplined’ and ‘Out of Control’: Design Action and Systems Thinking". In: Performance Improvement Quarterly, 1994, Vol. 7, No.3 (22-29).
- 2000. "The Case for Design; Creating a Culture of Intention". With Erik Stolterman. in: Educational Technology, Nov.-Dec. 2000, Vol. XL, No. 6, (29-35).