Course seminar 1 defining practice a

17 Oct 13RiPU - Course Seminar 1Design Thinking – Design Knowing – Design Research

Design Thinking – Design Knowing – Design Research

• This first seminar will question notions of research-led design practice and consider what this means for our individual project development

The activity

• Research leading to -

the contextualisation of the creative work – understanding its position.

• Research supporting -

the design process - moving from problem to solution

Design Thinking

• the ability to combine • empathy for the context of a problem• creativity in the generation of insights and solutions • rationality to analyze and fit solutions to the context

Design research

• primarily research into the process of design. • research embedded within the process of design. • context of designing and research-based design

practice. • aimed at understanding and improving design

processes and practices.

Design Thinking

• The premise is that by -

knowing the process and the methods that designers use

and

by understanding how designers approach problems to try to solve them

individuals and businesses will be better able to connect with and invigorate their ideation processes in order to take innovation to a higher level.

Design Thinking

• It looks for an improved future result. • Solution-based, or solution-focused thinking • It starts with the goal or what is meant to be achieved

instead of starting with a certain problem. • Focusing on the present and the future, the

parameters of the problem and the resolutions are explored, simultaneously.

Design Thinking

Learn

Implement

Ideation

Choose

Research

Define

Prototype

Define

• Decide what issue you are trying to resolve.• Agree on who the audience is.• Prioritize this project in terms of urgency.• Determine what will make this project

successful.• Establish a glossary of terms.

Research

• Review the history of the issue; remember any existing obstacles.

• Collect examples of other attempts to solve the same issue.

• Note the project supporters, investors, and critics.

• Talk to your end-users, that brings you the most fruitful ideas for later design.

• Take into account thought leaders' opinions .

Ideation

• Identify the needs and motivations of your end-users.

• Generate as many ideas as possible to serve these identified needs.

• Log your brainstorming/thinking sessions.• Do not judge or debate ideas.• During brainstorming, have one conversation

at a time.

Prototype

• Combine, expand, and refine ideas.• Create multiple drafts/iterations.• Seek feedback from a diverse group of

people, include your end users.• Present a selection of ideas to the client.• Reserve judgement and maintain neutrality.• Create and present actual working

prototype(s)

Choose

• Review the objective.• Set aside emotion and ownership of ideas.• Avoid consensus thinking.• Remember: the most practical solution isn't

always the best.• Select the powerful ideas.

Implement

• Make task descriptions.• Plan tasks.• Determine resources.• Assign tasks.• Execute.• Deliver to client.

Learn

• Gather feedback from the consumer.• Determine if the solution met its goals.• Discuss what could be improved.• Measure success; collect data.• Document.

The role of documentation

questioning

making reading

analysing

ana

lysi

ng a

nalysing

writing diary reflective journal

tape recordingphotographingquestionnaire

making noteswriting reviews

D

D

D

The role of reflection

• Why

• What

• Tools

HOW

what is a journal?

formatA4, 5, 6, 7, 8

pocket

phone

i pad

a journal is a place for...Recording

thoughts, ideas, observations, things

Reflecting

to gain understanding

Analyzing

to further your learning

Concluding

setting out what you have thought about

what’s in it - actual?written notes

diagrams

drawings

sketches

what’s in it - ideas?personal insight

observations

questions

speculation

the work of others

contentraw

un-thought-out observations

recorded close to the action

think police note book

reflection

stuff you have thought about

connections

notes on the unexpected

questionswhat happened?

why did it happen?

what do I think about this?

what should I do as a result of this?

how do I do this?

how to use itwrite often

note down dates and times

write freely - without hesitation

write down stuff even if its not relevant

defining practice

your making - contextual framework

social political

personal

critical/theoretical

historical geographical

institutional cultural

social context

Making and seeing an image always takes place in a social context. The way it is seen and how it is seen are culturally constructed.

Audience for work - who is included/excluded/implicated on the ways an image is produced, circulated and consumed

political context

Specific political issue

broad political issue

gender - race - ethnicity - sexual orientation - class - disability - religion

personal contextBiography - narrative of the selfparticular issues - memoriesWhat motivates/ drives you?Your particular skills as an artist/ designer/writer/photographerWhat strategies do you use when the work is not going well?How do you relate to the forces that in part condition what you know and in which you make things?

critical/theoretical context

Does your work relate to particular critical debates about contemporary art and design practices?

Is your work informed by/engaging with/contesting particular theoretical frameworks/issues?

historical context

Understand how/whether your practice relates to a tradition, with a history

How knowledge relates to periods in time.

geographical contextLocal, regional, national, international, global.

Where do you make your work?

Do you make your work in relation to a particular place?

studio home church city rural cyberspace

institutional context

MA Course - school of design

Your educational background/experience

Your professional background/experience

Your family background/experience

cultural context

In it’s broadest sense - ‘a whole way of life’ - this relates to all the other categories.

More specifically, what works of artists, designers, writers, filmmakers, photographers, musicians are important to you and your work - why?

mapping your practice

Any other contexts worth considering?

Importance

Overlapping

change - evolution of practice

Task 1

You are asked to develop a trend document which presents your thinking visually.

http://www.trendstop.com/

http://www.wgsn.com/http://www.premierevision.com/en/The-PV/Trend-forecast/Fashion-information-and-trend-forecast

http://www.fashioninformation.com/

http://www.edelkoort.com/

Locating the research activity

• research - FOR practice, where research aims are subservient to practice aims.

• research - THROUGH practice, where the practice serves a research purpose.

• research - INTO practice, such as observing the working processes of others.