Just an fyi - while I couldn't claim that "design-based research", a new research methodology, evolved from design research - this is a new approach to research that has clearly been influenced by design practice or what design practice represents.
There are many resources, and equally many names for this kind of research (design experiments, etc.) which is confusing because the names look suspiciously like "design of experiments" (which is not the overarching philosophy of this methodology).
The essential ideas behind design-bsaed research are iterative cycles of research through which theory and effective practices are developed concurrently. A good source on this is at: http://www.designbasedresearch.org/index.html
I share this because it seems to speak to many of the questions regarding the purpose and nature of what we refer to as "design research".
Robin Adams
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From: PhD-Design - This list is for discussion of PhD studies and related research in Design on behalf of PHD-DESIGN automatic digest system
Sent: Fri 12/14/2007 7:02 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: PHD-DESIGN Digest - 13 Dec 2007 to 14 Dec 2007 (#2007-284)
There are 2 messages totalling 214 lines in this issue.
Topics of the day:
1. Design Research? (2)
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Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2007 10:39:53 -0000
From: "Rodgers, Paul" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Design Research?
Dear List Members,
=20
Apologies for cross posting.
=20
I am currently writing a short article for New Design magazine
(http://www.newdesignmagazine.co.uk/index.html) on the subject of design
research.
=20
I would like to canvas opinions from list members on this subject. I
would obviously like to include these opinions in the article but I am
also happy to make them anonymous if you wish.
=20
On the subject of design research in general and design conferences in
particular, Professor David Durling has recently stated:=20
=20
"Though peer review and presentation of good and interesting papers is a
prerequisite for me, the real enjoyment of conferences is meeting
people, debating, and making contacts."
DESIGN RESEARCH NEWS Volume 12 Number 11 November 2007 ISSN 1473-3862,
DRS Digital Newsletter
=20
Having attended and presented at 3 design conferences since August 2007
I am wondering where we, as design researchers, are going as a
discipline. It is always good, as David Durling has stated, to meet old
and new contacts and discuss ideas, share interests and so on.
=20
However, are we really developing new forms of knowledge and
understanding in the field? Do we give ourselves enough time to write,
present, listen, think, interpret, reflect and engage with other
researchers in this frantic world of design conference after design
conference?=20
=20
Perhaps the following questions (and you may have your own) might
stimulate some discussion:
=20
Just where is design research going?
=20
Does design research help (for practitioners, educators, other
researchers)?
=20
Are standards being upheld in design research?
=20
Are there too many design conferences? Or simply not enough?
=20
Does design research help you in your work? If so how?
=20
What are the questions we as design researchers should be addressing or
investigating in the near future?
=20
I appreciate any opinions on this subject and look forward to receiving
your replies.
=20
Best regards,
=20
Paul
=20
=20
Dr Paul A. Rodgers
Reader in Design
School of Creative Industries
Napier University
Merchiston Campus
10 Colinton Road
Edinburgh
EH10 5DT
Scotland=20
UK
t: 00 44 (0)131 455 2313/2678
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e: [log in to unmask]
w: http://www.napier.ac.uk/sci
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Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2007 16:39:36 -0500
From: Francois-Xavier Nsenga <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Design Research?
Dear Paul,
In response to your post on Design Research, for my part I would suggest =
that you revisit and draft your paper along the "canvas" already =
supplied to us early in August this year, by Prof. Victor Margolin.
On August 3d., Professor Margolin first posed to us all on the list the =
following fundamental question:
" Why is so much research attention given to the process of design and =
so little to its results - the products that are the outcomes of =
designing, their value and social consequences."
And then he wrote on August 9th:
"From the discussion on the list thus far and exchanges off list, I have =
concluded the following:
1) the social consequences of products is an under researched topic=20
within the design research community
2) the work that has been done on this subject thus far is still=20
little known and has certainly not been collected into bibliographies=20
or data bases
3) there is a need for courses on this topic at all levels of design =
education
4) in certain product fields, criticism is intense but it usually=20
centers on technical functions of products. This is the case in the=20
computer field as I can attest to from belonging to a Mac list. Apple=20
takes it on the chin every day but also receives praise for good=20
moves. Such intense and informed feedback makes Apple products=20
better. But we still don't know enough about how products like the=20
iPod are changing social relations and commercial practices (i.e.=20
downloading music, personalizing all music experiences, shutting down=20
music programs on the radio, turning what was once a more public=20
experience of discovering new music and listening to it into a=20
private one.)
5) we need to think more about the personal social norms that we as=20
researchers would use to develop critiques of products. These will=20
not be the same for everyone but they will and should become=20
articulated positions in public debates about how we do and might=20
live. The product world in all its forms should be part of that=20
debate."
I believe you have there enough material to work on answering all the =
questions posed in your post, and many more that may arise from other =
list members. From the use 'end' of artifacts and then back to the =
'beginning' of the designing cycle, instead of going the usual way of =
the classical lineal design process.
All the best with your forthcoming paper, and please keep us posted!
Fran=E7ois
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End of PHD-DESIGN Digest - 13 Dec 2007 to 14 Dec 2007 (#2007-284)
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