5:1 Design research

After reading the texts Finding design qualities in a tangible programming space - Fernaeus & Tholander and Differentiated Driving Range - Lundström I have some thoughts on Design research. These will be published in form of answering some questions related to the texts and how design research differs from other research.

What is the 'empirical data' in these two papers?

The studies examined data by observing people and learning; acquiring knowledge through this specific form.

- Can practical design work in itself be considered a 'knowledge contribution'?

Yes, because it is just one way of many to get knowledge; not worse nor better than others. Knowledge and how to obtain it is also individual and there are different ways of seeing it. 

- Are there any differences in design intentions within a research project, compared to design in general?

Within a research project the goals may be different depending on the research. Design intentions rely on the aim regardless of whether it is research based or not. But often, there are additional factors to consider such as physical resources that may be limiting to a greater extent than if you would do academic (e.g. analytical) research.

- Is research in tech domains such as these ever replicable? How may we account for aspects such as time/historical setting, skills of the designers, available tools, etc?

Possibly replicable to some extent. But the exact replica of it is difficult as you rarely would have the exact same resources. The same code could easily be replicated from a software program, but the same people with the same cultural background would be harder. You could always try to make the design of the study less dependent on time, but in the study with children their personal creativity would be hard to rely on for the same outcome in a new study.

- Are there any important differences with design driven research compared to other research practices?

It is practical in a sense that it is more applicable in real life and in business settings where academic research is conceptual and not tested in the same way.