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Design Research and Ideas

GenerationCD201

Week 2 - Research

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Research – what type of research is suitable to get the information you need???


http://www.flickr.com/photos/cannedtuna/7940804366/in/photostream/


“Scientific Research”:


http://venturebeat.com/2012/08/14/iamscientist-kickstarter-for-academia/BBCD Melbourne BAPDCOM Version 1 - October, 2012 http://bbcdcomdes.weebly.com/

Start with a hypothesis, and then set out to prove it / disprove it, with empirical and measurable evidence.


Eg. “This place would attract people because….”

“People like this area because they feel safe”

“People would come here because it is convenient”


These things are easy enough to say, but unless you actually research your hypotheses, you may find that you are wrong – and thus would need to take a different approach to the design of your project.

Don’t be afraid to abandon preconceptions – move on!

How would you approach your project “scientifically”?

Can you think of any hypotheses which may be appropriate?


“Historic Research”….


http://museumvictoria.com.au/collections/items/270494/pictorial-map-melbourne-centennial-o-j-dale-1934BBCD Melbourne BAPDCOM Version 1 - October, 2012 http://bbcdcomdes.weebly.com/

Be aware of agendas in historical texts…They are usually one sided narratives which may not give you the full picture.

For example, the socio-demographics of an area.


But historical research can open a rich seam of inspiration… how can it inform your creative process for a present – day area?


What methods of historical research can you think of?


“Field Research”….


http://contagiouscommentary.com/2011/06/managers-promoted-prepared-tops-83/


Particularly helpful if you have supporting research to help inform what you are looking for.


“Journalistic Research”….


http://sprinkleteachingmagic.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/you-are-cordially-invited-to-my-first.html


Journalists are not searching for complete knowledge or understanding of a topic. The journalist has an article to write and only needs enough knowledge to complete it in a timely fashion.


“Research and Development”

(R&D)….



Like the journalist the R&D professional has an objective and doesn’t need to completely understand the topic. They do, however, have to know a little more so they can apply it to the solution they are trying to produce.


So which is design research most like?


Design research takes a little from each.


Like scientists we do the collection of data in order to find similarities and contrasts.


Like historians we get out to the original environment to observe and record.


Like historians we get out to the original environment to observe and record.


Like journalists we interview living people and study current texts (magazines, newspapers and web.)


Like journalists we interview living people and study current texts (magazines, newspapers and web.)

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Like R&D we have an objective and have to know how to develop and apply our research to a solution.


EFFECTIVE RESEARCH TECHNIQUE

Melbourne BAPDCOM Version 1 - October, 2012 http://bbcdcomdes.weebly.com/

Collection:

Gather all the info indiscriminately- eg. Key word searching via the web, library lists or newspaper archives.

What Key words are relevant to your project?


Don’t forget to interview people!

(and verify your findings).


The next stage:


DISCOVERY!


http://www.wordsinspace.net/course_material/mrm/mrmtopics_rsch.html


Create a “mind map” to find links between your gathered information…Either in your sketchbook, or download an app such as cmaphttp://cmap.ihmc.us/


Don’t worry if you can’t work out “what it means”.


Analysis…


Gather your thoughts and check for relevance – decide what is important.


Interpretation…


http://rollermarketingresearch.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/elephant-interpretation.jpg


Time to make sense of it all and start to apply our knowledge to a solution.

http://rollermarketingresearch.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/elephant-interpretation.jpg


Documents

BBCD Melbourne BAPDCOM Version 1 - October, 2012 bbcdcomdes.weebly