Hola hola,
I have been reading with interest the proposed and counter-proposed formats
for design conferences. I would like to add that if we are talking about
Design Research, and we assume that a definition of Research is a Systematic
way to achieve Knowledge, we would need to consider the different
presentations in which design knowledge exists. Richard Buchanan would have
a lot to say about this, but if we consider that there can be research for,
about and through design, then Design research conferences should include
research through designing.
There were some very interesting examples in Lisbon through powerpoint
presentations (thanks Eduardo for the organisation!), but I would personally
like to see a design exhibition of material samples of research done through
designing, even a 3D (and 2D and 4D) 'poster' presentation. While I support
the idea that the design discipline in general needs to develop its academic
skills, including writing about our knowledge, I also believe that there is
knowledge in our material outcomes that is better expressed by the actual
designed object. Of course there are logistic problems of transportation and
space, but there must be ways to incorporate an exhibition of research
through designing in a major Design Research Conference.
Referring to Terence Love's post below (hi Terry), isn't that example pure
mathematical engineering? I know that design practice may be monotonous some
times, but I doubt that pipes and their cousins are a relevant topic of
discussion here. I find gender issues, for instance, a much more important
topic to discuss in a design research environment, and for society. Maybe
the question is how relevant are our discussions to real practice? I have
designed products explicitly derived from theoretical discussions of the
kind in this list (Rodriguez Ramirez, E. (2006) Beyond Affordances in the
Person-Object Conversation: Grounded Theory Comparison of Three Design
Projects Based on Theory. Wonderground Book of Abstracts, page 75), let's
keep it exciting! Sure, we should keep our feet on the ground, but as my dad
says, we should always work with a cool head and a warm heart.
Best wishes from sunny Aotearoa
edgar rodriguez
On 11/21/06, Terence Love <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> Hello,
> In design research, the work of designers and the role of gender, its
> probably worth reminding ourselves that the vast majority of design work,
> design research and content of conferences is less exciting than implied
> by
> some of the posts in the recent discussions. An example is the following
> conference presentation on summarising important design research
> information
> for designing in current contexts a particular field of design:
>
> The session is entitled "Sound Engineering Piping Practice for Modern
> Building Services" and presented by Mr. Reuben Ang, Engineering Manager
> Victaulic - Asia Pacific, Shanghai.
> ...
>
> The DRS and the Phd-design list tend to overemphasise the design research
> in
> Art and Design domains of design. It may be worth reflecting on
> established
> practices the other (majority) design research domains?
>
>
--
edgar rodriguez
lecturer
industrial designer, phd candidate
school of design, victoria university of wellington
po box 600, wellington
new zealand
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