Design Research: Methods and Perspectives

Description:

The tools of design research, writes Brenda Laurel, will allow designers "to claim and direct the power of their profession." Often neglected in the various curricula of design schools, the new models of design research described in this book help designers to investigate people, form, and process in ways that can make their work more potent and more delightful. "At the very least," Peter Lunenfeld writes in the preface, "design research saves us from reinventing the wheel. At its best, a lively research methodology can reinvigorate the passion that so often fades after designers join the profession."

The goal of the book is to introduce designers to the many research tools that can be used to inform design as well as to ideas about how and when to deploy them effectively. The chapter authors come from diverse institutions and enterprises, including Stanford University, MIT, Intel, Maxis, Studio Anybody, Sweden?s HUMlab, and Big Blue Dot. Each has something to say about how designers make themselves better at what they do through research, and illustrates it with real world examples--case studies, anecdotes, and images. Topics of this multi-voice conversation include qualitative and quantitative methods, performance ethnography and design improvisation, trend research, cultural diversity, formal and structural research practice, tactical discussions of design research process, and case studies drawn from areas as unique as computer games, museum information systems, and movies. Interspersed throughout the book are one-page "demos," snapshots of the design research experience. Design Research charts the paths from research methods to research findings to design principles to design results and demonstrates the transformation of theory into a richly satisfying and more reliably successful practice.

Brenda Laurel is Chair of the graduate Media Design Program at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California and was the co-founder of Purple Moon. She is the author of Utopian Entrepreneur (MIT Press, 2001).

Table of Contents:

Preface: The Design Cluster Peter Lunenfeld	10
	Introduction: Muscular Design Brenda Laurel	16
	Acknowledgments Brenda Laurel	20
	People
	Section Introduction: The Changing Role of Research Christopher Ireland	22
	Qualitative Methods: From Boring to Brilliant Christopher Ireland	23
	Ethnography and Critical Design Practice Tim Plowman	30
	The Paradox of Design Research Bonnie McDaniel Johnson	39
	Designing for the New Old Eric Dishman	41
	Demo: Design Improvisation Brenda Laurel	49
	Hispanic Culture in Design Research Carlos Santos	55
	Overview of Quantitative Methods in Design Research Stacey Purpura	63
	User Requirements Abbe Don and Jeff Petrick	70
	Form
	Section Introduction: Design (As) Research Anne Burdick	82
	Speculation, Serendipity and Studio Anybody Lisa Grocott	83
	Toward a Definition of the Decorational Denise Gonzales Crisp	94
	Demo: DesignWriting Anne Burdick	101
	Sensory Anomalies Michael Naimark	109
	Spontaneous Cinema as Design Practice Rachel Strickland	118
	Game Forms for New Outcomes Emma Westecott	129
	Strategy, Tactics and Heuristics for Research Rob Tow	135
	Process
	Section Introduction: Test Pilots Brenda Laurel	144
	Bringing Clarity to the "Fuzzy Front End" Darrel Rhea	145
	Research Methods for Designing Effective Experiences Nathan Shedroff	155
	Enabling Design Sean Donohue	164
	Non-Assumptive Research Dorothy Deasy	172
	Play as Research Eric Zimmerman	176
	Demo: Creating a Culture of Design Research Eric Zimmerman	185
	Interdisciplinary Design Research Patrick Svensson	193
	Conceptual Designs B. J. Fogg	201
	Moving Your Idea Through Your Organization Christopher Loch	212
	Demo: Vibe-Hunting Somi Kim	221
	Living Proof Tracy Moon	225
	Research to Fuel the Creative Process David Canaan	234
	Action
	Section Introduction: Reports from the Field Brenda Laurel	242
	"You Can't Bring That Game to School!" Kurt Squire and Philip Tan	244
	SimSmarts Will Wright and Brenda Laurel	253
	Social Impact by Design Darion Rapoza	260
	Researching America's Army Margaret Davis	268
	A Virtual Walk on the Moon Bruce Damer	276
	Demo: Mobium Jin Hyun Park	285
	Research and the Movies Buffy Shutt	293
	Real Brand Alignment David Masten	309
	Conclusion: Beauty, Brains and Bravery Brenda Laurel	316
	References and Acknowledgments	317
	Index	323
	Biographies	329