Research Methods for Design
Unit code: HDG530
| Credit points | 12.5 Credit Points |
| Duration | One semester |
| Contact hours | 36 per semester |
| Campus | Online, Prahran |
| Prerequisites | Nil |
| Corequisites | Nil |
Related course(s)
A unit of study offered that is compulsory in any Masters of Design and/or Graduate Diploma of Design programs.
Aims and objectives
This unit aims to provide students with the design research skills to enhance their creative conceptualization abilities and provide evidence to support their design decisions.After completing this unit of study students should be able to:
· Engage and employ a wide range of qualitative and quantitative methodologies related to design research and practice
· Articulate the concepts of secondary research, primary research, data analysis and synthesis in design research
· Articulate the concepts of discovery, generative and evaluative design research
· Have the ability to design and construct a research-based concept proposal for design
· Explore the ethical responsibilities of designing for and with people and the environment
· Appreciate the concepts of QAME (question, assumptions, methods, and evidence), people-centred design, sustainable design, and evidence-based design
Assessment
Project Brief 1: Secondary Research 35%Project Brief 2: Primary Research 40%
Project Brief 3: Final Proposal and Background Info 25%
Please note that weighings are indicative.
Generic skills outcomes
Through it focus on methodologies of design research that enable students to write their own design briefs, HDG530 Research Methods for Design produces students with the following Graduate Attributes:
· Adaptable and able to manage change
· Aware of local and international environments in which they will be contributing (e.g. socio-cultural, economic, natural)
· Entrepreneurial in contributing to innovation and development within their business, workplace or community.
HDG530 Research Methods for Design provides students with the following Key Generic Skills:
· Analysis skills
· Problem solving skills
· Ability to tackle unfamiliar problems
· Ability to work independently
· Adaptable and able to manage change
· Aware of local and international environments in which they will be contributing (e.g. socio-cultural, economic, natural)
· Entrepreneurial in contributing to innovation and development within their business, workplace or community.
HDG530 Research Methods for Design provides students with the following Key Generic Skills:
· Analysis skills
· Problem solving skills
· Ability to tackle unfamiliar problems
· Ability to work independently
Content
The unit explores the following themes:· Choosing a topic of design inquiry or creative conceptualization
· Conducting Secondary Research
· Ethics in Research and Design
· Conducting interviews for design research
· Self-documentation and participatory design methods
· Conducing observations for design research
· Design Analysis: Capturing and Sorting Data
· Design Analysis: Intepretation and storytelling
· Design Synthesis: Visualization
· Design Synthesis: Performance
Reading materials
Martin, B., & Hanington, B. (2012). Universal Methods of Design, Beverley, MA, Rockport Publishers
Bernard, H 2006, Research Methods in Anthropology, 4th Ed., Altamira Press, New York, NY.
Lidwell, W, Holden, K & Butler, J. 2003, Universal Principles of Design, Rockport Publishers, Gloucester, MA.
References/Additional references will be made available via Blackboard or another online platform.
Lidwell, W, Holden, K & Butler, J. 2003, Universal Principles of Design, Rockport Publishers, Gloucester, MA.
References/Additional references will be made available via Blackboard or another online platform.
