Dear Karel,
This is partly anecdotal and partly extrapolation. I extrapolate from
increased interest in research claims that more and more design firms make
about the fact that they base their work for clients on research. It is also
based in part on the need for designers that can actually conduct different
kinds of research.
While it is true that many designers are hostile to research, as Gunnar
states, the firms still seek designers with research skills. Part of the
hostility may well be reaction among one group of designers without research
skills against the salaries and opportunities on offer for those who do have
research skills and research degrees. We certainly see this in universities
where tenured studio staff react against researchers even though this does
not threaten their salaries or jobs. I'd expect it to an even greater degree
in design firms where staffing can change as the industry changes, and less
qualified people can be made redundant to hire people with greater levels of
skill and research qualifications.
Beyond this, I'm basing my prediction on the changes that came to such
fields as medicine and engineering in the past, and now to fields such as
management and nursing, where an increasing number of professional
practitioners have doctorates or research training or both.
For direct evidence to answer the specific questions involved here, we'd
need to conduct a study.
Yours,
Ken
On Wed, 16 Dec 2009 06:57:07 +0100, Karel van der Waarde <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>You state:
>" In a profession that will increasingly demand designers capable of
>understanding and conducting research, it is also useful."
>
>Do you have any evidence for this?
>
>I'm on Gunnar's side: the graphic design profession seems to wonder
>about the need for PhDs and frequently reacts fairly hostile.
>
>I would suggest that PhD-graduates who want to go into - or return to
>- professional practice need to prepared for this challenge too.
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