Thanks for this post Lubomir, which I found very helpful
Although I must say I found the phrase "evidence-based" research especially tantalizing.
The evidence-based movement is currently appealing, but can lead to a variety of excesses, culimating in a kind of idolatry (c.f. Marion) of numbers, and can also displace some other kinds of rigorous thinking (usually critical and philosophical) about issues because such discourse don't easily "count" as evidence. Some people now prefer "evidence-informed" research, or policy thinking / design. And most critically, it aligns itself with the "design science" movement quite well, which subjects design to positivist paradigmatic lenses, something that Nigel Cross, I remember, recommend we approach hesitantly.
While on this track, is there any hope for a kind of "social scientific" account of design, approaching a kind of theology of design, especially since as John Milbank has argued, there is just no such a thing as the "secular" or "secular social science", and that "social science is just simply bad theology"?
Jude
-----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 Lubomir Savov Popov
Sent: Friday, 15 July, 2011 9:45 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: projection before analysis
Now a bit about the new rage on the block -- evidence-based design (architectural design). It is actually a new version of all previous initiatives about users and usability. However, the new trend is much more rigorous and demanding on architectural design firms. It originates in the health care industry and draws strength from the trillions of dollars spent there. Like it or not, we have to consider it, if we want to ride the train. There are billions of dollars there. I mean for design only. The spirit of evidence-based design is about basing design decisions on research. I hope that this new development will create unbelievable demand for design research at all levels. At the turn of the century, many large architectural design firms have hired researchers with doctoral training. I hope that in many design fields research will start before design and will continue during the design process. I will stop here. The utilization, application, and coordination of research in design is a different topic.
Best wishes,
Lubomir
National Institute of Education (Singapore) http://www.nie.edu.sg
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