After successful completion of the course, students are able to adopt and apply suitable theoretical reference frameworks and methodological approaches for future research and projects based on the acquired overview of the state of research and discourse, methods and theories of design and design research.

Introduction to the research area of design studies, design research, as well as theories and history of design. Designing is presented in its complexity, transdisciplinarity, and multimodality in the tension between art, technology, science, theory, and practice.

• The historical development, terminology, different approaches, and fields of design research and their relation to science are presented and elaborated according to different models and disciplines creating process plans, develop methods and produce findings.
• Rationalistic approaches of the early design research methodology, developments towards more implicit experience and skills of designers and design research based on social and cultural science approaches are presented and examined. 
• Attempts at structuring, procedural models, positions as well as contextual factors, layout of different anatomies, origins and perspectives are examined, reflected and discussed in more detail using literature from various authors in the heterogeneous research field.
• 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, media and design tools (such as sketches, drawings, prototypes) are presented. Approaches, theoretical concepts as well as research results are illustrated on the basis of data taken from research projects and case studies of design processes in practice.
• By means of group work students will user their theoretical knowledge in practice.

• Discussion of the procedure in the first lecture unit on 5.3.2024 at 1 pm 
• Ongoing dates (13 dates in total) Tuesdays 13:00 - 15:00. Sketch notes or similar reflection methods will be created to assess the content of individual lectures. There is no written exam for this part of the lecture.
• 1 group work with ongoing documentation (e.g. notes, photos, videos, sound recordings) and reflection incl. creation of 2-3 freely selectable design artifacts (e.g. sketches, mockups, prototypes). Meetings to discuss the group work are held on Tuesdays when there are no lectures. The exact schedule can be found in the TUWEL course.
• 1 Analysis and evaluation of the work of another group incl. presentation of the results
• Communication, provision of literature, slides, etc. via TUWEL.

EC Breakdown:

1h - Kick Off
1h - Group building
12 x 2h - Lecture units
13 x 0,5h - Reflection to the lectures
55h - Groupwork: Design
55h - Groupwork: Design Study
5,5h - Presentations of group work + Discussion

Sum: 150 Hours

Proof of performance

• Reflection using sketch notes or similar material on lecture content
• Documentation of the group work (e.g. sketch notes, video recordings of group discussions, photos) with reflection
• Presentation of the analysis & evaluation of the group work to another group