Abstract: This paper proposes dissertation research on a new paradigm of software design based on theories of human interpretation. It is argued that computer supported design environments in certain domains should leave all matters of interpretation to the human user and should try to support the user's interpretation, exploration and development of designs by providing a computationally powerful medium of external memory for storing the evolving design artifact and related knowledge. Hermes, a prototype software environment for the design of lunar habitats, is based on a unified hypermedia knowledge representation system incorporating group and personal perspectives as well as an end-user disclosure language for articulating interpretations of design elements.
