Introduction to academic design research
The overall aim of design research is to develop an accessible, robust body of knowledge that enhances our understanding of design processes, applications, methods and contexts. Often, this knowledge helps to define best practice and workable methods in dealing with design and design related problems. It therefore has considerable potential for improving our use and management of design.
Design research embraces a wide range of disciplines, research inquiries and methodologies. These include:
- Theoretical studies in design which aim to develop a science of design and provide conceptual frameworks for design inquiries.
- Design discipline-specific research such as industrial design, fashion and textiles, interactive design, which may have a specific technical or product focus, and can include materials and process research.
- Research into usability, applied ergonomics, ethnography, and other studies which aim to develop methods to get design closer to user needs.
- Cultural and historical research which aims to better understand the role that design plays in our culture, and how individuals and communities interact with visual culture.
Design pedagogy research which explores issues of learning and cognition through design.
- Applied research into design problem areas, such as crime prevention, sustainability, demographic change and healthcare, which aims to develop new methods and design exemplars for dealing with contemporary problems.
- Design management research which examines how design can be managed in the context of new product development, branding, environmental design and economic competitiveness.
Design research is cross disciplinary, and often interdisciplinary. In other words, it is conducted by academic researchers from a range of different academic disciplines, in some cases working together to explore a design problem using different perspectives in a coordinated way. Design departments (eg industrial design, engineering design, graphic design, etc) are responsible for much design research. However, since the 1980s there has been growing interest in design from the social sciences, psychology, marketing and other management areas. This has led to a rich and varied culture of design research. The United Kingdom is recognised as having a leading role in the international design research community.
Academic research is 'open source'. Central to the academic approach is that research problems, methods and findings are all made fully transparent and accessible. This enables research to be built upon and applied by others. While some contract and consultancy research is often restricted in terms of its dissemination, the bulk of design research is published using a range of methods and media. These include:
- Research conferences organised by 'learned societies' or research networks (eg the European Academy of Design) usually themed on a specific topic. These combine presentations of work in progress and fully completed research and provide a forum for discussion. Published proceedings of full papers and abstracts represent an important resource for design researchers and users of design research. Most importantly such conferences provide a means of developing an international community of researchers in specific disciplines and problem areas.
- Refereed journals, which publish research papers that will have been peer reviewed by specialists prior to publication. Some are general and cross-disciplinary (eg The Design Journal) while others are more specialised (eg Design Management Journal). Journals represent a vital and rigorous source of research methods and findings. Increasing numbers of journals are accessible online.
- Online networks through the web or email which provide opportunities for discussion between researchers, details of forthcoming conferences and publications and a means of sustaining research communities.
- Books which provide detailed arguments and findings of particular issues. While they can lack the immediacy of conference and journal papers, they are essential for providing in-depth coverage of research.
Design knowledge transfer is facilitated by some university design research centres that provide consultancy and research support to external organisations. The Knowledge Transfer Partnerships scheme (www.ktponline.org.uk ) is one mechanism that enables academic design research expertise to be exploited and applied cost effectively by SMEs.