Design has more comedy in it than it looks at first sight. However, because of its historical trajectory as a problem-solving practice it is usually linked to tragedy, which can be limiting when it comes to reflect on its role among society. Throughout the pages the reader will come to understand design as a form comedy. By tracing parallels between comedy and design the thesis demonstrates how our perception of design, designing and designers is highly conditioned by its current connection to tragedy. Analysing design through a comedic framework unveils the absurdities of the field and, at the same time, liberates it from its old constraints. What is tragic in design can be used to create comedy instead.

The ultimate goal is to create new strategies for design to engage with crisis, where form will follow humour.