He is known for redefining Total Design (methodology), which had previously been coined by Ove Arup regarding integrated architecture and structural engineering,[1] to instead map a structured and integrated process in the field of product design and development that included market and production processes.
In the later stages of his industrial career, Pugh worked within the English Electric Company as Chief Designer in the Hydraulic Equipment Division, ultimately progressing to become Divisional Manager.
Pugh left industry in 1970 and began his academic career as a 'Smallpeice' Reader in Design for Production at Loughborough University of Technology.
Pugh moved to Scotland and in 1985 became the 'Babcock Professor of Engineering Design' and the head of the 'Design Division' at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow.
It was here that Pugh produced his seminal book, 'Total Design: Integrated Methods for Successful Product Engineering’, published in 1990.
Soon after Pugh published his book 'Total Design', Professor Don Clausing (MIT) and Professor Ken Ragsdell (University of Missouri) encouraged Pugh to publish his collection of papers to make his work readily available to design engineers and managers.
This often led to commercial failure, due to the lack of consideration of the market, the user needs and the resources of the organisation (non-technological factors).
Total design offers a visible operational structure which allows for the integration of technological and non-technological parts enabling efficient and effective product development.