Dear Derek
Thanks a lot for your good advice. It comes through like the words of a wise man who knows the TRUTH spoken to a novice.
I have 25 years of experience from (very part-time) design practice, I have 22 years of experience as a design educator and 18 years as design researcher.
You have three years of reading in the field of design research. Maybe I’m an idiot and you a genius, but so far I don’t think so. (Though i absolutely do not think im a genius)
I have been wondering how to address this and I am sorry it has to become related to the case at hand and slightly personal. I tried to avoid this in my post following your long post. It was not directed towards you, because this is a general problem. I have fought such battles before but then against different people from other fields, prescribing a totally different TRUTH and prescription to enlightenment than yours. Same attitude but different religion. I admit though that my answer was triggered by your post. Once again I’m baffled about the arrogance you expose towards the field and the list:
“On this list, I would like to see students and scholars discussing — not philosophical banter, made-up words, ways of "linking" any two random things stumbled upon in the course of daily life, or why some approach is better than another before anyone has even explained what their question is”
This implies a false generalization of the list and the field. It is disrespectful and provoking.
Theres so much to say about each and every point of your long posts but this has to wait for now. As you i have limited time for this.
Design and design research is an inclusive and interdisciplinary place. It integrates many professions, sciences and research approaches willingly. Many design researchers with a different background than design are well integrated in the field. But most often they have spent a couple of years on this process of integration, working closely with designers, educators and design researchers with different backgrounds. They also are humble about their limitations and conscious about their expertise. I think we all agree design is a wonderful rich field with many perspectives and approaches and it’s a lifelong learning experience. Uncertainty, constant developing of ideas and renegotiating positions are everyday activities in a dynamically evolving arena.
Maybe it’s about a lack of cultural sensibility. When entering a field unknown to you, you need to open your senses to understand what’s going on and why.
This is my advice to you to successfully become a positive voice in this field.
All the best
Birger
Birger Sevaldson (PhD, MNIL)
Professor at Institute of Design
Oslo School of Architecture and Design
Norway
www.birger-sevaldson.no
www.systemsorienteddesign.net
www.ocean-designresearch.net
________________________________________
Fra: PhD-Design - This list is for discussion of PhD studies and related research in Design [[log in to unmask]] på vegne av Derek B. Miller [[log in to unmask]]
Sendt: 16. mars 2013 17:05
Til: [log in to unmask]
Emne: Re: The potential value of this list: Using "drawing as research" as an illustration
I'm afraid I'm out of this conversation now. Birger, you and I will never come close to agreeing. I'm not haggling over the definition of research. It's apparently what everyone but designers do. Or, if you prefer, you have your own special ways.
Good to know. And please make sure others know what to expect when they open the wrapping.
If, and until then. I just can't be doing this anymore.
Derek.
Derek B. Miller
Boston and Oslo
Int'l phone: +1 617 440 4409
email: [log in to unmask]
-----------------------------------------------------------------
PhD-Design mailing list <[log in to unmask]>
Discussion of PhD studies and related research in Design
Subscribe or Unsubscribe at https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/phd-design
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|