本文回溯了19 世纪末以来西方关于设计科学的争论，探讨在前工业设计时期、工业设计时期和后工业设计时期中关于设计认知和理念的变化，特别是它们在整个工业设计时期中随同满足物质需求产品生产能力增长而发生的转变。事实表明，当产能不满足物质需求时，工业生产是以规模竞争优先；而当规模发展到极端而导致产能过剩并引发许多社会问题时，工业生产就转向创新竞争。竞争模式改变导致设计认知和理念的变化：从保证大规模物质生产、符合物质演变规律，即理性的系统化的设计，到满足人们对新的和美好生活的追求，并同时满足物质需求、精神需求和社会需求统一的由创意引领的设计。哪一个设计能使创新成功，取决于竞争，不仅仅是市场竞争，而且是在社会发展中的竞争。现在不是会不会设计的问题，而是设计有没有竞争力。中国正处在经济增长方式转变的关键时期，推动设计科学的研究，认识这些变化非常重要。本文提出了“竞争性设计”和“继承性设计”的概念，并将后工业设计时期称为竞争性设计时期。

The controversy on ‘design science’ since the end of 19_th century was reviewed. An analysis of the change of the cognition and idea of design in the ‘period of pre-industrial design’, ‘period of industrial design’ and ‘period of post-industrial design’ was given, especially in the period of industrial design. The change came following a rapid increase of the production capacity in meeting material needs. In fact, when the capacity could not meet material needs the competition of industrial production is scale expanding priority. Until an extremely expanding led to an overcapacity and a series of social problems the competition became to innovation priority. The change of competition paradigm changes the cognition and idea of design: from a rational and systematic design which ensured the large scale production of material products and followed the principles of material transformation into a creation leading design which tracks the desire of people in pursuing new things and better life which must meet simultaneously the material needs, psychological needs and social needs. Which design can make the innovation successful is decided by competition, not only the competition in market but also the competition in the social development process. The problem now is not that one who can or cannot design but the design with or without competitiveness. China is now on the way of mode transformation of economic development and it is very important to push forward the study of design science and make clear the change in design cognition and idea. The concepts of ‘competitive design’ and ‘inheriting design’ are suggested in the paper and discussed.