about terry's long list of design research.

superficially, such a list seems overwhelming. it gives the impression that
most of us have no clue what is going on outside of our particular
interests.  this might well be true, but not particularly helpful.

i would suggest his list is more about the use of the two WORDS "design" and
"research," not about the practices we seek to inform by inquiries.  to
narrow our area down to what professional designers -- not engineers (who
design technically functioning mechanisms), not scientist (who design
experiments and questionnaires), not economists (who design mathematical
equations and financial products) -- do, i would say that design is and
should be fundamentally human-centered, be concerned with all kinds of
(individual and cultural) interfaces between humans and their artifacts, be
they informative/appreciative (graphic, and artistic), interactively
manipulable (usable), consumable, or organizational (like pursuing a design
project).

we should not let us be sidetracked by other professions' use of the word
design.  we don't own that word, but we will not advance our practices by
thinking we can embrace everyone who uses it. 

klaus


-----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 Eduardo
Corte Real
Sent: Friday, September 11, 2009 10:56 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: current Trends in Design Research, where are we going ?

Hi Terry,

My note to you was off-list, but thank you anyway for the acknowledgment of
one of wonderground's hardiest task: to map the field(or territory) trying
to make a "geography" of design research without leaving any deserts behind.
Since I read recently that from the four DRS "modern" 
international conferences only Wonderground was not "influential" I must
thank you for the reference.

Anyway, for programme purposes we had to group papers in categories. As I
wrote in the abstract book the groups were: "Theory and Philosophy, Users
Studies, Identity Studies and Architecture (from Interiors to
Landscape) corresponding, in total, to almost two thirds of the conference.
Three medium sized groups: Strategic Design, Digital Design and
Sustainability Studies corresponding to less than one fourth of the
conference; finally, the exquisite small groups of History and Engineering,
corresponding roughly to ten per cent. We decided to dilute a track of
Design Education in the others since, in the end, all is related with
education." (I hope that this helps, Alireza. I must add that both Design
History and Engineering Design have their own forums so you shouldn't think
that they are weak trends).

 

 

As for your book survey, Terry, may I suggest that you should concentrate on
books not written in English. That would give you a clearer picture of what
design is (globally understood) without the "noise" of other meanings for
design in English. 

I give you an example: In Portuguese a book about "intelligent design" would
never have in its title the word "Design".

 

Also I've collected "Shakespeare and Design", "Swift and Design" and "Jane
Austen and Design" in which is evident the use of design in English with
other meanings other that a projectual activity. 

 

Cheers,

 

Eduardo



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