To develop an understanding of design practice - its conceptual, cooperative, interdisciplinary nature and complexity.
To become acquainted with recent approaches in design research, their methodology, concepts, research methods and research results. Acquire the ability to carry out empirical studies.
To advance ones reflective design practice.
Introduction to Design Studies, Design Research; theories and history of design. Designing is described in its complexity, trans-disciplinarity and multi-modality. Designing is presented between two orientations: designing as science vs. designing as an art, an artful craft, a skillful practice.
Approaches to Design Research in various engineering disciplines are depicted which conceive designing according to the model of technical rationality. The attempts of these approaches to develop methods and to rationalize and optimize the design process are presented. The methodology (paradigm) of these approaches is outlined and methodological critiques, alleged in literature, as well as some objections raised in design practice are discussed.
Then, socio-scientific, interpretative approaches are presented which suggest a methodological re-orientation in Design Research. In this view designing is conceived as a social, interpretative process; interpretative approaches emphasize skills of experience designers and describe designers¿ procedures and (multimodal) practices observable in actual design processes. Concepts (such as contexts, frames, Gestalt, tacit knowing, etc.) for analysis and description of design processes, in particular the analysis of the role of representations (such as sketches, drawings, etc.) and design tools are presented. Approaches, theoretical concepts as well as research results are illustrated on the basis of data (such as video records, etc.) taken from research projects and case studies of design processes in practice.
Students (in small groups) carry out case study and write a report.
