Research is a process that prioritises the journey. The key to research is so you can have brighter ideas closer together. We are looking at strategic ways to resolve ideas.
'Process is more important than outcome. When the outcome drives the process we will only ever go to where we've already been. If| process drives outcome we may not know where we’re going, but we will know we want to be there.'
Incomplete Manifesto for Growth – Bruce Mau Design 1998
Ideas driven research, ideas driven research. The thought of planting seeds.
Approaches to the generation and investigation of ideas:
Stimulated Approach
This is a conscious or subconscious search for inspiration from an external repertoire: in the surroundings, media, in discussion, libraries, etc. The main concern here is the development of analogies and associative approaches, which are then further developed into individual solutions.
Systematic Approach
This is based on the systematic collection and modification of components, characteristics and means of expression: such as by structuring and restructuring, enlarging and reducing, combining and extracting, replacing, adding, mirroring or reproducing.
Intuitive approach
This is the development of thought process, which is primarily based on internalised perceptions and knowledge, that is to say an internal repertoire. This type of thought process may occur spontaneously, without being evoked specially. This is actually a systematic process that takes place subconsciously.
What Is Research?
Approaches to the generation and investigation of ideas:
Stimulated Approach
This is a conscious or subconscious search for inspiration from an external repertoire: in the surroundings, media, in discussion, libraries, etc. The main concern here is the development of analogies and associative approaches, which are then further developed into individual solutions.
Systematic Approach
This is based on the systematic collection and modification of components, characteristics and means of expression: such as by structuring and restructuring, enlarging and reducing, combining and extracting, replacing, adding, mirroring or reproducing.
Intuitive approach
This is the development of thought process, which is primarily based on internalised perceptions and knowledge, that is to say an internal repertoire. This type of thought process may occur spontaneously, without being evoked specially. This is actually a systematic process that takes place subconsciously.
What Is Research?
(Research) is the process of finding facts. These facts will lead to knowledge. Research is done by using what is already known; A process of finding out by asking the questions….
‘How?’
‘Why?’
‘What If?
It involves collecting information about a subject from a variety of sources including books, journals and the internet. Or by carrying out experiments or talking to people and the analysis of this information.
Types Of Research
Primary Research
Qualitative Research
Explores and tries to understand people's beliefs, experiences, attitudes, behaviour and interactions. It generates non-numerical data. The best-known qualitative methods of inquiry include in-depth interviews, focus groups, documentary analysis and participant observation.
A way to study people or systems by interacting with and observing the subjects regularly.
‘How?’
‘Why?’
‘What If?
It involves collecting information about a subject from a variety of sources including books, journals and the internet. Or by carrying out experiments or talking to people and the analysis of this information.
Types Of Research
Primary Research
- Research that is developed and collected for a specific end use, usually generated to help solve a specific problem
- Research that involves the collection of data that does not yet exist
Secondary Research
- Published or recorded data that have already been collected for some purpose other than the current study.
- The analysis of research that has been collected at an earlier time (for reasons unrelated to the current project) that can beapplied to a study in progress
Quantitative Research
Deals with facts, figures, and measurements, and produces data which can be readily analysed. Measurable data is gathered from a wide range of sources, and it is the analysis and interpretation of the relationships across this data that gives the information researchers are looking for.
- Generates numerical data or data that can be converted into numbers.
- The gathering and analysing of measurable data.
- Research that is objective and relies on statistical analysis, such as surveys.
Qualitative Research
A way to study people or systems by interacting with and observing the subjects regularly.
- Research that is involved in quality. It can describe events, people etc, without the use of numerical data
- Qualitative research is the gathering of information that is not statistical but that gives an idea about the perceptions or views
What Is Information?
Information is the result of processing, manipulating and organising data in a way that adds to the knowledge of the person receiving it.
Data that has been processed to add or create meaning and hopefully knowledge for the person who receives it. Information is the output of information systems.
Information should be sufficient, competent, relevant, and useful.
Any communication or representation of knowledge such as facts, data, or opinions in any medium or form, including textual, numerical, graphic, cartographic, narrative, or audiovisual forms
Methodologies
Information is the result of processing, manipulating and organising data in a way that adds to the knowledge of the person receiving it.
Data that has been processed to add or create meaning and hopefully knowledge for the person who receives it. Information is the output of information systems.
Information should be sufficient, competent, relevant, and useful.
Any communication or representation of knowledge such as facts, data, or opinions in any medium or form, including textual, numerical, graphic, cartographic, narrative, or audiovisual forms
Methodologies
A Strategy For Researching Into A Problem: 1
Phase 1 - Assimilation
Phase 1 - Assimilation
- The accumulation and ordering of general information and information specifically related to the problem in hand.
- The investigation of the nature of the problem.
- The investigation of possible solutions or means of solution.
Phase 3 - Development
A Strategy For Researching Into A Problem: 2
Analysis
Do not attempt to invent solutions at this stage, just background information and parameters.- The development and refinement of one or more of the tentative solutions isolated during phase 2.
- The communication of one or more solutions to people either inside or outside the design team.
A Strategy For Researching Into A Problem: 2
Analysis
- What is the problem / brief/ question about?
- What do I need to know more about?
- What already exists?
- What are the specifications, materials, functions, client preferences that are a fixed part of the brief?
Research
- How many ideas occur in response to your analysis?
- Ask yourself “What happens if ......?”
- Use lateral thinking & word association to spur originality
- Find the extremes (simplest to over-the-top / bizarre)
- Use mechanical trial and error e.g. mock-ups to find how & where to join bits together.
- Try out likely materials & find their limitations
- Go for lots of fast possibilities rather than one precious solution.
Be prepared to go back to “Analysis”.
Evaluation
Solution
Evaluation
- Which fulfils the brief?
- Which looks the best?
- Which does the client/audience/viewer prefer?
- How does it fit the current ethos/values/ trends….?
- Is it easy, cheap, expensive, impossible to make?
- Does it excite/innovate/ intrigue…..?
- What is its function? Does it work?
Solution
- Usually a compromise between what you want to do, what can be afforded, and what is feasible.
- Be sure this is acceptable by getting feedback on all the possibilities before you reach this stage.
