Introduction to design research, ETKS010
Syllabus
Course name: Introduction to Design Research
Credits: 7,5 ECTS
Course code: ETKS010
Educational level: Doctoral level
Eligibility requirements: the course is open to those admitted to doctoral studies at LTU and other universities on request.
Prerequisite knowledge: no
Course content
This is an introductory course in design research that should ideally be completed during the doctoral candidate’s first year of study. The course gives the participants an initial insight into what characterizes design research, which methods and processes are used, and how a research approach can be developed. Through seminars, presentations, writing assignments, and discussions, participants will develop their understanding of the fundamental aspects of design research.
Learning objectives
Show a basic understanding of the foundations of design research: this knowledge is critical for understanding research in general and design research in particular and its various theories and methods.
Show specialization and in-depth knowledge in design research: in doctoral studies, it is crucial to be able to specialize in a specific subject are. By offering opportunities for initial delimitation, the course helps the participants to identify and develop their niche within the field.
Show critical understanding of gender equality aspects within design research: as a participant in the course, you will develop an understanding of how norms, gender perspectives, and intersectionality affect design and design research. You will be encouraged to engage with texts that address these issues and to reflect on and integrate these perspectives into your own research projects.
Show the ability to develop a personal research approach: being able to develop one’s own research approach is crucial. This includes the ability to pose relevant research questions, choose suitable methodology, apply a theoretical framework, and be able to reflect on one’s own role in relation to the research.
Show the ability to formulate a research proposal: the ability to communicate a research proposal is crucial for a research career. This skill is not only important for securing funding and approval of research projects but is also a central component of a doctoral student’s ability to communicate their ideas effectively, both in academic and professional contexts.
Implementation
Module 1 Design research – an overview (3 ECTS)
In the first module, the participant is introduced to some of the fundamental aspects of doctoral education in design. The task in Module 1 is to read literature (articles from conferences or journals, books, or other publications) that the participant chooses themselves and that should show a range of possible approaches within design research. These may be from the course’s literature list but may also be texts that the participant considers appropriate in consultation with their supervisor. Mandatory texts are starred * in the literature list. Examination of module 1 consists of written reflection and an oral presentation. These should compile different research approaches and present whether they can be relevant to the participant’s own research. The written assignment is to be submitted one week before module 2, the work is presented and discussed orally.
Module 2 Design research -current design research (3ECTS)
In the second module, the participant chooses, in collaboration with the supervisor, 3-5 publications that are relevant to their own research subject. These should reflect possible research methods or topics that could be useful for the participant’s own research and may, for example, be research articles or dissertations. Examination of module 2 consists of a written reflection that shows both potential and challenges identified by the participant, based on the chosen literature and personal thoughts.
Module 3 Design research proposal (1.5 ECTS)
In the third module, course participants use the insights they have gained during the course to develop a research proposal for their own research studies, where they describe the approach behind the proposed research. The proposal can, for example, be based on Muratovski (2016 p. 42-44). The proposal is submitted in writing for examination and feedback.
Examination
Module 1 written and oral examination pass/fail
Module 2 written and oral examination pass/fail
Module 2 written and oral examination pass/fail
Course literature
Bardzell, S. (2010). Feminist HCI: taking stock and outlining an agenda for design. CHI 2010: HCI for all conference, April 10-15, 2020, Atlanta, GA, pp. 1301-1310. Link
Bleecker, J. (2009). Design Fiction: a short essay on design, science, fact, and fiction. Near Future Laboratory. Link
Brown, T. & Katz, B. (2011). Change by design: how design thinking transforms organizations and inspires innovation. Harper Business Review. Link
*Buchanan, R. (1992). Wicked problems in design thinking. Design Issues, 8(2):5-21. Link
Buchanan, R. (2019). Systems thinking and Design thinking: the search for principles in the world we are making. She-Ji: The Journal of Design, Economics, and Innovation, 6(4): 567-568.
Cash, P.J., Gram Hartlev, C.G. & Boysen Surazo, C. (2017). Behavioural design: a process for integrating behaviour change and design. Design Studies, 48:96-128.
DiSalvo, C. (2012). Adversial design. MIT Press.
Dorst, K. (2011). The core of design thinking and its application. Design Studies, 32(6):521- 532.
Dunne, A. & Raby, F. (2013). Speculate everything: design, fiction, and social dreaming. MIT Press
Friedman, K. (2003). Theory construction in design research: criteria, approaches, and methods. Design Studies, 24(6):507-522. Link
Fry, T. (2009). Design Futuring: sustainability, ethics, and new practice. Berg.
Gaver, W. (2012). What should we expect from research through design? In Proceedings of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. Link
Irwin, T. (2015). Transition design: a proposal for a new area of design practice, study, and research. Design and Culture, 7(2):229-246. Link
Manzini, E: (2015). Design, when everybody designs: an introduction to design for social innovation. MIT Press
Margolin, Victor. (1998). Design for a sustainable world. Design Issues, 14(2): 83-92.
Mazé, R. (2019). Politics of Designing Visions of the Future. Journal of Future Studies, 23(3): 23-38.
*Muratovski, G. (2016). Research for Designers. A Guide to Methods and Practice. London: Sage Publications Ltd.
Nelson, Harald G. & Stolterman, Erik. (2014). The Design Way: intentional change in an unpredictable world. MIT Press
Norman, D. (2013). The design of everyday things: revised and expanded edition. Basic Books.
*Sanders, E.B.N. & Stappers, P.J. (2008). Co-creation and the new landscapes of design. Co- design, 4:5-18. Link
Schön, Donald, A. (1983/2017). The Reflective Practitioner: How professionals think in action. Routledge
Tonkinwise, C. (2015). How we intend to future: review of Anthony Dunne and Fiona Raby, Speculate everything, design, fiction, and social dreaming. Design Philosophy Papers, 12(2):169-187. Link
*Wikberg Nilsson, Å. & Eriksson, Y. (2021). Gendered design. In Y. Eriksson’s (ed) Different perspectives on design thinking. CRC Press.
Wikberg Nilsson, Å. & Jahnke, M. (2018). Tactics for norm-creative innovation. She-Ji: The Journal of Design, Economics, and Innovation, 4(4):375-391. Link
Zimmerman, J., Forlizzi, J. & Evenson, S. (2007). Research through design as a method for interaction design research in HCI. In Proceedings of the CHI 2007 conference on Design Theory, April 28-May 3, 2007, San Jose, CA, USA, pp. 493-502. Link
The course is conducted: February 15- May 15
The course is offered: every spring semester
Application to:
Åsa Wikberg Nilsson, asa.wikberg-nilsson@ltu.se
PhD students must state in the application: name, personal identification number, e-mail, research subject, department and/or institutional affiliation.
Application deadline: January 31
Course open to PhD students from other institutions than LTU: yes
Maximum number of students: 25
Course fee: the course is free of charge for doctoral students admitted at LTU. For doctoral students admitted at other institutions, a course fee may be required.
Contact person/Course responsible:
Åsa Wikberg Nilsson, professor of Design, asawi@ltu.se, tel. 0920-491342
Examiner
Åsa Wikberg Nilsson
Syllabus established by: Helena Ranängen
Date of establishment: 2023-12-20
Updated: