Research & Development Methods

Product Design Semester 05

Class: Product Design Junior Year – Section A&B

Course Code:
Faculty: Ritika Karnani ([email protected])

Course Objectives
Research forms the base of any good design. Every designer needs to know tools which help
them to understand the environment of their product and the users better. A better
understanding leads to deeper insights into finding new opportunities to make better
products/services. This course is designed to equip students with a theory and practical
aspects of design research. They will be exposed to a variety of research methods along
with the sensibility to understand the context of using these tools. The aim of this course if
to make the students understand the importance of a research process while practicing it.
The course also aims at getting the students to write an academic paper so they can
communicate their learnings and discovery.

Learning Objectives

To develop understanding of the advance framework of research process

a. Problem recognizing / framing
b. Data collection
c. Synthesize
d. Analyze

Understand & Learn to various methods of research , specializing to the new post COVID
world.

Learn to choose the appropriate method of research.

Be aware of the ethical principles of research, ethical challenges, and approval processes.

Understand published research.

Learning Outcomes

Understanding of the importance of research and its application at various stages of design
process.
Competence in Research Planning & research paper writing & Development tools.
Strength in Primary Research, Research synthesis and presentation of the analysis.
Demonstrate the ability to successfully plan, execute, analyze, and document a research
process.
Demonstrate the ability to successfully convert insights into ideas and selection of the final
concept.
Fluency in conducting secondary research.

*Learning
The stage of student learning that relate to the learning outcomes of the
outcome
program.
program.
The student is conversant in the language and importance of the topic in relation to product design. UNDERSTANDING
The student has the ability to apply knowledge of the topic within the design process consistently, but often
in a basic and routine way. COMPETENCE
The student has the ability to apply the knowledge in multiple ways that show an understanding of more
subtle aspects of the topic. STRENGTH
The student has the ability to consistently and accurately apply the knowledge in their own way, making
subtle distinctions in where and when the knowledge is applicable. DEMONSTRATION
The student can apply the knowledge in unique and improvisational FLUENCY

Schedule

Week Plan Assignment method of teaching Phase

Week 1 Introduction to research 1. Make a research Presentation
methodology - Overview, Recap & Manifesto for the team. 2.
Setting Expectations. Introduction Make a list of topics you
to types of research. would be interested to
work on.
Week 2 Understanding different types of
research briefs - deconstructing
them and writing a brief. Making a 1.Writing the design brief
research plan based on the brief . 2. Making a Plan of action
Week 3 Design Research Papers - 1.Mind map for secondary Screen sharing -
Discussing types, structure and research. 2. Making a list Jstore and other
how to select the correct research of relevant design resources
paper for secondary research. research papers SECONDARY
Week 4 Tools of Secondary Research - Selection of 1 design Screen share, Google RESEARCH
Insight learnt from secondary research paper per search Engine, Miro
research. person. Each student to Board
write a 500-word report.
Week 5 How to present your secondary Compiling all the learnings Presentation
research - visual representation , of the last 5 weeks and
Storytelling. making a presentation.
Week 6 Class presentation - Secondary Submission of brief,
Research. ( research paper + secondary research, and
secondary) report on research paper.
Week 7 Tools Competition Analysis - Analysis Products / Presentation
Company & Service & Product services / Company
Week 8 Synthesizing Competition analysis Making the final synthesis Presentation , Miro
presentation. Board
Competence in Research Planning LEARNING
OUTCOMES
Understanding of the importance of research and its application at various stages of design process.
ASSOCIATED
Fluency in conducting secondary research. WITH THIS
DELIVERABLE
Week 9 Guest Lecture - Research in the Zoom call
Social Impact sector
Week How to conduct remote research - Conducting focus groups Live focus group
10 Focus group sessions, Journaling, and recording them. session - students will
witness the whole
process.
Week How to conduct remote research -
11 Focus group sessions, Journaling,
Week Synthesizing research - Insight Synthesizing insights from Miro Board
PRIMARY
12 making their focus group
RESEARCH
Week Visually representing research - Presentation
13 PPT, long & short. Making a
presentation for Insight sharing /
making design criteria
Week Class presentation of Research Swapping assignment
14 synthesis, Insights & Design
Criteria
Strength in Primary Research, Research synthesis and presentation of the analysis. LEARNING
OUTCOMES
Demonstrate the ability to successfully plan, execute, analyze, and document a research process.
ASSOCIATED
Understanding of the importance of research and its application at various stages of design process. WITH THIS
DELIVERABLE
Week Ideation Tools - Ideating Alone & Ideation for their problem Ideation Cards,
15 Ideating in teams . Facilitating statement based on their Presentation, Group
Ideation workshops insights discussions
Week Idea selection process - Idea Presentation
16 representation process - Idea
testing with users
Week Research paper writing with Presentation
17 Discussion and conclusion DEVELOPMENT
Week Working on research paper
18
Week Working on research paper
19
Week Final paper submission. Final
20 presentation.
Understanding of the importance of research and its application at various stages of design process. LEARNING
OUTCOMES
Competence in research paper writing & Development tools.
ASSOCIATED
Demonstrate the ability to successfully plan, execute, analyze, and document a research process. WITH THIS
DELIVERABLE
Demonstrate the ability to successfully convert insights into ideas and selection of the final concept.

Course Deliverables
1. Research Journal / Log
2. Research Team Manifesto
3. Secondary research presentation with synthesis
4. Primary research presentation with synthesis
5. Insight presentation to swap with other teams
6. Research paper with findings on original topic.
7. Ideation Deck with swapped topic. This should have the ideation + testing phase
Evaluation Criteria

Grading Criteria Division of Grades

Understanding of the process 15%
Deliverables ( All 5 as stated above) 55%
Documentation 10%
Participation + Engagement ( Team ) 10%
Attendance 10%
Total 100%

Reading Recommendation
Universal Methods of Design - Hanington, Bruce & Martin, Bella. Universal Methods of Design: 100 Ways to
Research Complex Problems, Develop Innovative Ideas, and Design Effective Solutions. Beverly, MA: Rockport
Publishers, 2012

Design Research: Methods and Perspectives - Laurel, Brenda. Design Research: Methods and Perspectives.
Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2003.

101 Design Methods - Kumar, Vijay. 101 Design Methods: A Structured Approach for Driving Innovation in Your
Organization. Wiley, 2012.

Design Research Through Practice - Koskinen, I., Zimmerman, J. et al. Design Research Through Practice From the
Lab, Field, and Showroom. Elsevier / Morgan Kaufmann, 2011.

Bryman, Alan & Bell, Emma (2011). Business Research Methods (Third Edition), Oxford University Press.

Neuman, W.L. (2008). Social research methods: Qualitative and quantitative approaches, Pearson Education.

https://medium.com/designstrat/exploratory-design-research-interview-dc51398c6354

http://designresearchtechniques.com/#/

https://www.designkit.org/