Abstract
The present paper reconsiders some of the activities that properly constitute design research, by focusing on case studies of contract research carried out by the Design Contract Research Unit at Nottingham Trent University. A review of recent UK papers seeking to define the nature of design research suggests that a consensus is still some way off. Contract research, which is a professional research service undertaken for commissioning clients, poses further questions again, since a commercial service may amount to little more than jobbing work. The aims of this paper are to identify the characteristics of contract research in design through particular examples and to consider how far such particulars assist the search for general consensus.
Citation
Crabbe, A. (2002) Contract research in design, in Durling, D. and Shackleton, J. (eds.), Common Ground - DRS International Conference 2002, 5-7 September, London, United Kingdom. https://dl.designresearchsociety.org/drs-conference-papers/drs2002/researchpapers/20
Contract research in design
The present paper reconsiders some of the activities that properly constitute design research, by focusing on case studies of contract research carried out by the Design Contract Research Unit at Nottingham Trent University. A review of recent UK papers seeking to define the nature of design research suggests that a consensus is still some way off. Contract research, which is a professional research service undertaken for commissioning clients, poses further questions again, since a commercial service may amount to little more than jobbing work. The aims of this paper are to identify the characteristics of contract research in design through particular examples and to consider how far such particulars assist the search for general consensus.