Research and Methodology

Today we were given a talk on research by Professor Mike Press. He is very inspirational speaker who never fails to capture my imagination! He talked about the difference between scientists and designers -  a scientist observes the world and then compares observation with current knowledge. A designer has value preferences of how the world should be and proposes how to change it.

Interesting. This would suggest that designers have the opportunity to change the world! Even if just a little bit.

I want to clearly understand the methods that I use to make sense of the world?

I am going to start reading Visualising Research by Carole Gray and Julian Malins. We discussed the various differents modes of research :

• research into design
• research for design
• research by design

Ultimately using design as a creative practice to produce new knowledge.