Hi Robbie,
Ken pointed out there are two main issues for academics involved in design
research: publishing to volume metrics and publishing for quality metrics.
It appeared to me you are pointing to a third area: any publishing for
whatever reason.
That's a good point. There's a tacit assumption that this list is only for
design researchers at university. In reality, there are many practicing
designers on this list.
There are an increasing number of design researchers in professional
practice - particularly in e.g. engineering and ICT/HCI design.
For practicing designers, ANY publication may be useful, e.g. as good
advertising (including publishing an empty wallet or stiff back!)
For academic publication, usually the crucial issue is the existence of a
publicly reviewable approach to impartially judging a potential
publication's quality BEFORE public display. Here in Australia, it is now
acceptable under the new academic assessment process (ERA) to include
objects, artworks, architecture plans, patents etc provided there is a prior
process for assessing the item's quality. The 'publication' is then judged
as a product of the quality of the assessment process and the assessed
quality of the 'publicaiton' by that process.
My Head of School, Donal Fitzpatrick, recentlydescribed it well: 1) Academic
quality assessment is what happens BEFORE publication, and the quality of
that assessment process is important. 2) Designers and artists are used to
being assessed AFTER publication. 3) This difference will require a major
change of thinking about assessment and quality by design and art academics.
Cheers,
terry
-----Original Message-----
From: Robbie Napper [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, 1 May 2009 9:16 AM
To: Terence Love
Cc: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Dissemination (from ecology and journals threads)
Hi Terry,
I was thinking more about direct, intended research outcomes that constitute
a contribution to the field, rather than the indirect consequences.
But just to clarify, you're saying a "no" then. (?)
cheers
Robbie
Terence Love wrote:
> Hi Robbie,
>
> I find research often has resulted the research products of a stiff
> back and an empty wallet. Should these also be included as publications?
>
> Cheers,
>
> Terry
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: PhD-Design - This list is for discussion of PhD studies and
> related research in Design [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
> Behalf Of Robbie Napper
> Sent: Friday, 1 May 2009 7:31 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Dissemination (from ecology and journals threads)
>
> Chris, Ken and list,
>
> Thanks for the posts on dissemination, it helps to clear up some of
> the mystique in this area that I have encountered so far in my
> studies. The tips on getting work online and available are very
> helpful for this new researcher.
>
> Ken's comment:
>
> "There are many other ways to publish -- books and monographs, book
> chapters, refereed web sites, papers at leading conferences..."
>
>
> ... raises a question I have been thinking about for a while. I was
> discussing only yesterday with my supervisors the nature of design
> research; where the written word is a large part of our communication,
> but not the only part. In many situations, mine included, the research
> has resulted in manufactured products. Should we design researchers
> consider these artefacts as a publication? If so, who will count them?
>
> best regards,
>
> Robbie Napper
> Industrial Design
> Monash University
> p) +61 3 990 31059
> f) +61 3 990 31440
>
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