Dear Terence,
I am Professional Designer who is now doing his PhD. As PhD student I
find it unsatisfying to see how design research remains in the
academic bubble and never touches ground, the act of designing itself or
becomes applied in the field.
Six years ago in my 2006 MA studies I researched (in a way that a young
man full of conviction would do) the connection between Semiotics and
Fashion Design. a practical project in Fashion Design was set up to
validate the case study tool as a method of design/creation in the field
of Fashion Design.
You can view the project - the practice part of the study and the
theoretical part of it on http://www.yoad.info/pages/9.php
Perhaps my old study could help you in forming a new perspective on
Design Research & Practice.
In my current research project I am studying the relationship between
Universal Structures in Languages and in Design. The aim is form a new
approach towards Design based on Universal Principles and Parameters as
explored in the fields of Linguistics and Semiotics. Toll sand methods
developed by this approach will then tested and brought into application
in the field of crafts by investigating how could this US design
approach can help to recover craft activity and resonance in modern
design practice.
So there are some of us ( I hope more then one) who are trying pioneer a
way a round this dilemma.
With kind regards,
David
+++
Yoad David Luxembourg
Designing the intangible,
Design Metaphysics
On 10-8-2012 9:36, Terence Love wrote:
> Hi Emma,
>
> What you say makes sense. A question that springs to mind is about where you
> are drawing the boundaries of what you see as design research.
>
> Seems like there are two obvious-ish options:
>
> 1. Design research defined as 'research that helps improve design outcomes
> and design practices'. This includes the design related research from AI,
> Psychology, Math modelling etc etc
>
> 2. Design research defined as 'research that designers use in their
> practices'.
>
> The problem with using the second one is it results in a tautology -
> testing to see whether designers use the research that designers use....
> you seem to be heading down this road?
>
> An implication of using 1. Is that it then brings in the way design research
> outcomes are embedded in the activity of producing designs outside
> designers thinking about them or even being aware of the existence of the
> research.
>
> Or is there a way round this dilemma?
>
> Best wishes,
> Terence
>
> ===
> Emma wrote: my PhD ... aims to discover if, how and why professional
> designers in Australia engage with research as part of their practice, as
> well as whether they value engaging with research, regardless of whether
> they are presently able to use it....which as I said, I believe could only
> be through personally conducting investigations, or reading research
> findings. Employing tools (whether they are the outcome of research or not)
> does not constitute engaging with research as far as I can see, but I'd love
> to hear if, and if so why, you disagree.
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