A Future Scenario for a Methodological Approach applied to PhD Design Research. Development of an Analytical Canvas

Abstract

Within the fruitful discussion about what design research should mean and achieve and the implication for doctoral education, this paper aims to explore the topic regarding the boundaries between project design research and academic design research. There is also a strong movement within the academic milieu in the realm of design, namely within international conferences and research meetings, to discuss methodologies and processes as a paramount contribution to defining scientific research in design. PhD design research in Portuguese universities started slowly in the late 1990s, but is increasingly establishing itself as a worthy degree. This text focuses on an original study depicting the state of the art of the methodological approaches applied in doctoral design research in Portugal. It proposes a Design Research Classification Model and a Design Research Canvas that can be applied to other systematic reviews of design research as a means of synthesising the past to outline the future. It is also a major objective of this work to contribute to a clarification of a methodological framework, which relates practicebased research to academic research.

DRS2018: Catalyst

“…These methods can often be inadequate for the design fields and as such demonstrate the necessity for the establishment of specific methodologies that contribute directly to design research. (Clemente et al, 2017) This current state within design research demonstrates Kuhn's(1996) discussion with regards to emerging paradigms. Kjørup, 2012) Until a research community has widespread adoption of an agreed upon paradigm, practitioners will draw upon different philosophical foundations that are oriented towards the field in varying ways.…”

“…The multiple interpretations of RtD, and furthermore the lack of a unified paradigmatic voice, within design research is related to the relatively young age of the discipline. Clemente et al(2017) credit the beginning of academic research in design with the conversion of The Design Research Department at the Royal College of Art to a postgraduate teaching department in 1976. This was a precursor to the larger movement in design research that started in the late 1990's with the first PhD Design Conference at Ohio State University.…”

“…While there is widespread acceptance that design projects have a place within academic design research, there are currently two fields of thought regarding the basis of the epistemology. (Clemente et al, 2017) The first considers that there is a wide range of current methodologies, and by association epistemologies, within established paradigms in which design research can find a fit for all questions. This is especially true when considering qualitative research.…”

“…Research for design, when conducted in practice, is routinely considered unscientific and is concerned with producing some form of tacit knowledge. (Clemente et al, 2017). When performed with rigor it draws upon several established paradigms.…”

Research & Education in Design: People & Processes & Products & Philosophy

“…In previous works (Clemente, Tschimmel & Pombo, 2017), we intended to contribute to the field of Design Research theory, with a special focus on doctoral research, by examining the boundaries between Design Research and Design Practice. We started by synthesising the contributions from authors such as Frayling (1994), Cross (2007), Friedman (2008), Findeli, Brouillet, Martin, Moineau & Tarrago (2008) on a threecategory Design Research taxonomy.…”