Introduction
What is this book about?
Who should read this book?
Why do you need this book?
How to use this book
Where to find more information
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2
3
3
4
5
Content 5
Limitations 8
Summary 9
Chapter Objectives
This chapter will help you to better understand:
• How...
Introduction
1
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What is this book about? 2
Who should read this book? 3
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Why do you need this book? 3
How to use this book 4
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Where to find more information 5
Content
Limitations ke 5
8
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Summary 9
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Chapter Objectives
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This chapter will help you to better understand:
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• How this book can help you learn more about research in design
• How to use this book
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• Where you can find more resources on other research methods
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• The contents of this book and its limitations
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The field of design is now entrusted with solving complex and impactful challenges across all social and
economic sectors. But in order to make meaningful contributions, designers first need to learn to ask
the right questions in order to identify what the real problems are. They also need to learn how to con-
duct research in order to resolve these problems. In the process, learning to navigate through a range
of cross-disciplinary issues in order to understand the broader socio-cultural, political or environmental
impact of their work is necessary.
Designers aspire to deliver new and innovative solutions to existing problems, or at least to transform less
preferred solutions to more desirable ones. While some of the problems that designers try to address are evi-
dent, others still need to be detected. In either case, designers need to demonstrate new levels of understanding
01_MURATOVSKI_CH_01.indd 1 15-Nov-21 10:44:00 AM
, RESEARCH FOR DESIGNERS
of what these problems are before they begin to develop solutions. This is a process that always begins with a
basic question: What is it that we want to resolve?
The answer to this question is rarely straightforward and pursuing it can be best described as a journey
through the field of knowledge. This investigative process leads designers not only through the creative
industries – where they often look for inspiration – but also through other disciplines where they will need
to look for existing knowledge in order to make informed decisions. Once the problem is identified and
placed within a given context, the search for gaps in this knowledge and possible resolutions continues. Once
this information is gathered, a process of analysis and interpretations begins – and only then should design
interventions and solutions follow.
Large and complex design projects tend to transcend disciplinary boundaries and require involvement of
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teams of diverse experts. In such cases, designers may be required to assemble and lead cross-disciplinary
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teams, become experts in areas that they never worked in before, and develop briefs and reports on behalf of
their clients. In order to do so, designers will need to demonstrate management and leadership skills that con-
pr
stantly challenge the limits of the profession itself. This is a lengthy process that may span across one’s entire
career and requires a new kind of education and ongoing professional development. This book can provide
d
some help with that. Below I will explain the aims and the objectives of this book and the nature of the intended
audience. In addition to this, I will delineate the content of the book – chapter by chapter – and outline the
book’s limitations.
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What is this book about?
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As the title says, this book is a guide to research for designers. The purpose of the book is to introduce design-
ers and emerging design researchers to some fundamental research approaches. The book is written under
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the premise of cross-disciplinary design research and education, which means that I will introduce a range of
perspectives on using research within this context.
E
However, I will make no attempt to provide an encyclopaedic or comprehensive collection of all
G
available research methods and research practices out there. I will not venture into highly complex, exper-
imental or advanced research practices either. Instead, I will mainly focus on introducing some of the
SA
most commonly used research approaches in design. As you continue reading this book further, please
remember that this book is primarily meant for audiences who are new to research. But regardless of this,
I am confident that many experienced designers and researchers will also find this book to be interesting,
practical, and informative.
If you are a beginning researcher, this book will provide you with information on how to embark on a
research path, how to develop a research question, how to select appropriate research methods, how to com-
municate your research to the relevant stakeholders, and how to convert your research into a professional
design brief that will lead to an effective design solution. If you are a seasoned researcher, professional designer,
or a senior academic, this book can also provide you with a set of practical applications and insights into the
future of the field of design.
2
01_MURATOVSKI_CH_01.indd 2 15-Nov-21 10:44:00 AM
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