Design Research

Peter Downton......Page 2
4 Ideas of knowledge......Page 4
9 Bibliography......Page 5
O......Page 6
1......Page 9
1.1 On design research......Page 10
1.2 Research......Page 14
1.3 Design......Page 19
1.4 The ‘scale of danger’......Page 21
1.5 Method and methodology......Page 25
1.6 On the methods of this text......Page 27
2......Page 29
2.1 Introduction......Page 30
2.2.1 Research activity: investigating theoretical inquiries in another field......Page 32
2.2.2 Research activity: examining exemplars, extant objects and ways of doing things......Page 33
2.3 Research for a specific project......Page 37
2.4 Some classes of research for specific projects......Page 40
2.4.1 A research example: establishing the full set of pertinent regulations and standards......Page 41
2.4.3 A research example: finding meteorological data for a site......Page 42
2.4.4 A research example: finding performance specifications of materials or some equipment......Page 43
2.4.6 A research example: understanding human behaviour in particular circumstances......Page 44
2.5.1 Researched material – its form, content and collection......Page 46
2.5.2 The purpose and use of researched material......Page 47
2.5.3 An ideal form for researched material......Page 48
2.6 Some final thoughts......Page 50
3......Page 51
3.1 Introduction......Page 52
3.2.1 An historical note on the development of research about design......Page 56
3.2.2 A compilation by Jones......Page 58
3.2.3 Characteristics of problems......Page 59
3.2.4 Evaluative commentary......Page 61
3.3 Research into what designers do......Page 66
3.4 Teaching and learning design......Page 70
3.5 History of design and designed things......Page 71
3.6 Some final thoughts......Page 72
4......Page 73
4.1 Introduction to chapters four to seven......Page 74
4.2.1 Is truth true?......Page 76
4.2.2 Meanings for ‘knowledge’?......Page 78
4.3.1 Beware the binary oppositions......Page 81
4.3.2 Three kinds of knowledge......Page 82
4.3.3 A priori knowledge and a posteriori or empirical knowledge......Page 84
4.3.4 Three framings of knowledge......Page 85
4.3.5 Analogue and digital knowledge......Page 86
4.4 Accounts of science applied to design......Page 88
4.5 Final thoughts......Page 91
5......Page 92
5.1 Introduction......Page 93
5.2.1 Induction and knowledge......Page 96
5.2.2 Testing to refute......Page 98
5.2.3 Sciences as practices which produce knowledge......Page 99
5.3.1 The ‘meaning’ of theory......Page 101
5.3.3 Critical theories......Page 103
5.3.4 Design theories......Page 104
5.4.2 The nature of models......Page 107
5.4.3 The purpose of models......Page 109
5.5 Theories and models as epistemological tools......Page 112
5.6 Objective knowledge with no knowing subject......Page 114
5.7 Final comments......Page 117
6......Page 118
6.1.1 What do designers know?......Page 119
6.1.2 Immanent knowing......Page 121
6.2.2 Disciplinary and other knowledges used......Page 125
6.2.3 Existing design knowing......Page 126
6.3.1 The occurrence of novel ideas......Page 128
6.3.2 Changes in a designer’s knowing......Page 129
6.3.3 Testing......Page 131
6.3.4 Representations and knowing......Page 133
6.3.5 What is going on in designing?......Page 135
6.4 Design knowledge made manifest......Page 138
6.5 Knowing to knowledge – a summary......Page 142
7......Page 143
7.1.1 The process of spreading design knowing and knowledge......Page 144
7.1.2 Social negotiation: narrative and language......Page 146
7.2 Exemplary design works: their use and collection......Page 149
7.3.1 The ‘content’ transmitted......Page 153
7.3.2 Spatial transmission – the role of representations......Page 155
7.3.3 Learning – making knowledge and knowing......Page 158
7.3.4 A note on the significance of exhibiting (added 2013)......Page 160
8......Page 162
8.1 Outline......Page 163
8.2 Narrative and pattern......Page 164
8.3 Reflections on reflective practices......Page 167
8.3.1 Project examinations......Page 168
8.3.2 Reflections on these research degrees......Page 169
8.4 But is it knowledge?......Page 172
9......Page 175
10......Page 184