Making Sense of Design Effective design is at the heart of everything from software development to engineering to architecture. But what do we really know about the design process? What leads to effective, elegant designs?The Design of Designanswers these questions. This new book by Fred Brooks contains extraordinary insights for designers in every discipline. Brooks pinpoints the constants inherent to all design projects and uncovers processes and patterns most likely to lead to excellence. Drawing on the observations and intuitions of dozens of exceptional designers, as well as his direct experiences in several design domains, Brooks argues convincingly that bold design decisions lead to better outcomes. The author tracks the evolution of the design process, delves into complex systems based on distributed design, and illuminates what makes a truly great designer. He examines the nuts and bolts that affect all design processes, including budget and other constraints, aesthetics, design empiricism, and tools, and then grounds this discussion in his own real-world examplescase studies ranging from home construction to IBMrs"s Operating System/360. Throughout the book, Brooks reveals the keys to success that every designer, design project manager, and design researcher should know.