This course will provide a brief yet in-depth foray into the fundamentals of design research. Find the value of understanding users and user groups and discover the ability of design research to inform design directions, structure ideation and interaction. This class is specifically tailored to thinking about design research as it pertains to the greater design process as opposed to as an isolated field of work. • Learn the value of design research and how it should be understood in terms of the greater design process.
Calling all business owners interested in expanding markets and understanding your users, or designers who may be unfamiliar, unpracticed, or doubtful of design research! Students will learn a variety of approaches and methodologies available to design researchers based on project scope and context, how to prepare the materials necessary for the methodologies, as well as tips and tricks for how to conduct them properly. We'll tease out how to find the “needle in the haystack” in one’s findings and to begin the arduous process of synthesis. Finally we'll explore different methods for codifying findings to ensure they continue on throughout the design process.
Basic understanding of design thinking.