In response to Richard's posting -
My own PhD studies build on a 'tradition' of practice-based design research in
the medical field carried out here in Sheffield. This includes work described
previously by Paul Chamberlain and myself (medical connectors) Paul Chamberlain
(vibro-accoustic products for the sensorily impaired) and Chris Rust and Graham
Whitely (upper arm prosthesis). My research has been looking at emerging
prototyping technologies and their application within human-centred design
practice, using practical case studies from the field of medical device design.
I feel one aim (and challenge) of design research is to use the patterns and
processes of designing to integrate theoretical and practical knowledge; the
outcomes of which may not solely be confined to the discourse of design
research. The theoretical and practical outcomes of design research can (and
should?) have meaning and significance within the wider community as a whole.
Perhaps this is the challenge of human-centred designing?
Peter
Peter Walters
PhD Student
Sheffield Hallam University
http://www.shu.ac.uk/schools/cs/cri/adrc/research2/peterwalters
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