About the Author John Chris Jones is best known as a founder of the design methods movement. The first professor of design at the Open University in London, he is also known for his work in ergonomics and futurology. In recent years, he has worked as a freelance lecturer and writer, independently adapting methods from the "time arts," including performance and video, to the design process. During his career, Jones has published over 200 articles. In addition, he has experimented with publishing through small presses and in new formats, such as microfilm, photocopies, and computer disks. Samples of his recent writing, what he calls virtual fiction, appear in the "imaginary preludes" to this edition.