THERE IS NOTHING AS PRACTICAL AS A GOOD THEORY – AN ATTEMPT TO DEAL WITH THE GAP BETWEEN DESIGN RESEARCH AND DESIGN PRACTICE
DS 32: Proceedings of DESIGN 2004, the 8th International Design Conference, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Year: 2004
Editor: Marjanovic D.
Author: Birkhofer, H.
Section: KEYNOTE
Page(s): 7 - 14
Abstract
The paper addresses the gap between the expectations of designers working in a competitive industrial environment and the outcome of design research focusing on specific, scientifically interesting areas of design. To bridge this gap, related requirements for design research like a commonly agreed terminology and an involvement of research into the transfer-process were formulated. Using the full power of design methods and tools also requires a basic understanding and a mental internalization of the models behind them. Convincing examples of solving “real-world” design problems demonstrate the success of a methodically based design practice.
Keywords: design research, design methodology, design practice, design models