Research Methods for Design

LICA420

Times

Term 1, details to be announced.

Venue

TBC

Convener

Dr. Daniela Sangiorgi

Staff

Dr. Daniela Sangiorgi - plus other guests

Assessment

• Design research project report (2500 words) and Design thinking and doing report (1500 words)
• A 30 minutes audiovisual presentation through which students will demonstrate their ability to apply design thinking and associated approaches, formulate and communicate a coherent argument.

Objectives

• To develop an understanding of how established techniques of research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge
• To develop critical and analytical competencies appropriate to Masters level study
• To enable students to develop self organisation, project management and communication skills
• To introduce a range of methods and skills appropriate to both design research and design practice
• To develop the skills and knowledge required to plan and undertake research for design
• To develop a practical understanding of the role of design thinking in innovation processes
• To develop students’ ability to initiate, model, manage, and critically evaluate creative insights into, for, and through design thinking and practice
• To enable students to acquire the necessary expertise to generate, analyse and interpret research data
• To develop research and analytical skills that address complex systems and issues, contexts and situations

Core content and the development of advanced skills and knowledge

An understanding of research methods are central to designers, design researchers and design managers ability to generate, develop, undertake and analyse research activities that inform design practice. Students will develop skills in a range of research methods and approaches that will be utilised across the scheme as a whole. Syllabus to be covered includes:

• The relationship between design thinking and design research
• Design thinking
• Co-design and design research
• Choosing an appropriate research methodology
• Ethnography, video-based ethnography

Course delivery and assessment

This course will be assessed through a report consisting of written reflection of the practical activities and a 30 minute audiovisual presentation through which students will demonstrate their ability to apply design thinking and associated approaches, formulate and communicate a coherent argument, and show whether or not they have developed critical and analytical skills of a level appropriate to master’s level study. Students will be assessed in relation to the specific learning outcomes for this module. The programme comprises a series of lectures covering the main methodologies for design research (ethnography, video based ethnography, visualisation, co-design, research-through-design and art-design interventions). Lectures are accompanied by a parallel research project. Assessment is based on the implementation of and reflection on a research project.

Selected bibliography

• Julier, G (1997) Dictionary of 20th Century Design and Designers. Thames and Hudson
• Laurel, B (Ed). (2003) Design Research: Methods and Perspectives. Cambridge MA, MIT Press
• Lidwell, W et al (2003) Universal Principles of Design. Rockport Publishers, USA
• Ulrich, K & Eppinger, S (2003) Product Design and Development. McGraw-Hill Education
• Ziesel, J (2006) Inquiry by Design: Environment/Behaviour/Neuroscience in Architecture, Interiors, Landscape and Planning, Norton & Co Ltd
• Norman, D (1998) The Design of Everyday Things. The MIT Press
• Jordan, P (2002) Designing Pleasurable Products, Taylor and Francis
• Baumann, K and Thomas, B (2001) User Interface Design for Electronic Appliances, Taylor and Francis
• Mijksenaar, P and Westendorp, P (1999) Open Here: The Art of Instructional Design, Thames and Hudson
• Julier G, (2000), The Culture of Design, Sage, London
• E Spiekermann & E Ginger, Stop Stealing Sheep and find out how type works, Pearson, UK
• Cooper and Press, The Design Experience, the role of design and designers in the 21st Century, Ashgate, UK
• Bødker, S., Through the Interface: A Human Activity Approach to User Interface Design, LEA Publishers, Hillsdale, New Jersey, 1991
• Nardi, B. (a cura di), Context and consciousness: Activity theory and Human Computer Interaction, MIT press, Cambridge-MA, 1996
• Grau, O (2007) MediaArtHistories, The MIT Press
• Wilson, S (2003) Information Arts: Intersections of Art, Science and Technology, The MIT Press