Abstract
Design research is an academic issue and increasingly a success factor for industrial, organizational and social innovation. Efficient methodical support is crucial. The fierce rejection of 1st generation design methods in the early 1970s resulted in the postmodernist attitude of “no methods”, and subsequently in the strong adoption of scientific ways of thinking for design research. The situation regarding methodology has been characterized by unproductive dualisms such as scientific vs. designerly methods, normative vs. descriptive methods, research vs. design. The potential of the early (1st generation) methods is neglected and the practical usefulness of design research is impeded. The suggestion for 2nd generation methods, conceived as discursive instruments, as discussed by Rittel and others has hardly been taken up in design. The development of MAPS is aimed at the support of practiceoriented design, innovation and research processes. The longterm aim is the development of an integrated knowledge and communication platform for research through design. MAPS is based upon the idea of a productive reconciliation of the strong dualisms between “scientific” and “designerly” modes of inquiry and supports the emerging concept of design thinking. The paper reports on the ongoing research and development process from MAPS1.0 towards MAPS2.0 and beyond.
Keywords
Research Through Design, Methodology, Maps, Integrative Design Research Medium
Citation
Jonas, W., Chow, R., Bredies, K., and Vent, K. (2010) Far Beyond Dualisms in Methodology - An Integrative Design Research Medium “MAPS”, in Durling, D., Bousbaci, R., Chen, L, Gauthier, P., Poldma, T., Roworth-Stokes, S. and Stolterman, E (eds.), Design and Complexity - DRS International Conference 2010, 7-9 July, Montreal, Canada. https://dl.designresearchsociety.org/drs-conference-papers/drs2010/researchpapers/57
Far Beyond Dualisms in Methodology - An Integrative Design Research Medium “MAPS”
Design research is an academic issue and increasingly a success factor for industrial, organizational and social innovation. Efficient methodical support is crucial. The fierce rejection of 1st generation design methods in the early 1970s resulted in the postmodernist attitude of “no methods”, and subsequently in the strong adoption of scientific ways of thinking for design research. The situation regarding methodology has been characterized by unproductive dualisms such as scientific vs. designerly methods, normative vs. descriptive methods, research vs. design. The potential of the early (1st generation) methods is neglected and the practical usefulness of design research is impeded. The suggestion for 2nd generation methods, conceived as discursive instruments, as discussed by Rittel and others has hardly been taken up in design. The development of MAPS is aimed at the support of practiceoriented design, innovation and research processes. The longterm aim is the development of an integrated knowledge and communication platform for research through design. MAPS is based upon the idea of a productive reconciliation of the strong dualisms between “scientific” and “designerly” modes of inquiry and supports the emerging concept of design thinking. The paper reports on the ongoing research and development process from MAPS1.0 towards MAPS2.0 and beyond.