Comments on: Design research for sustainability http://www.changingthechange.org/blog/2007/12/20/design-research-for-sustainability/ Design Visions, Proposals and Tools. Mon, 24 Nov 2008 21:49:54 +0100 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: students http://www.changingthechange.org/blog/2007/12/20/design-research-for-sustainability/comment-page-1/#comment-16 students Wed, 09 Jan 2008 19:38:48 +0000 http://www.changingthechange.org/blog/2007/12/20/design-research-for-sustainability/#comment-16 why tere is less book or pubbliaction about a social approch of design professional.. Some author and designer speak about social design when a project is about healt, poverty, anciant, disable, ecc.. i would like ask you what do you think is a definition of PROJECT BASED ON SOCIAL DESIGN, WHICH ARE THE GUIDELINE FOR MAKING A SOCILA PROJECT, AN EUROPEAN DESIGN CAN PROJECT SOMETHING FOR OTHER CONUTRY UNDER DEVELOPMENT??? THANKS FOR THE ATTENTION, sorry for my english, i hope a your responce Ezio why tere is less book or pubbliaction about a social approch of design professional..

Some author and designer speak about social design when a project is about healt, poverty, anciant, disable, ecc..
i would like ask you what do you think is a definition of PROJECT BASED ON SOCIAL DESIGN, WHICH ARE THE GUIDELINE FOR MAKING A SOCILA PROJECT, AN EUROPEAN DESIGN CAN PROJECT SOMETHING FOR OTHER CONUTRY UNDER DEVELOPMENT???

THANKS FOR THE ATTENTION,
sorry for my english,

i hope a your responce Ezio

]]> By: Luiz Brasil http://www.changingthechange.org/blog/2007/12/20/design-research-for-sustainability/comment-page-1/#comment-13 Luiz Brasil Tue, 08 Jan 2008 17:02:03 +0000 http://www.changingthechange.org/blog/2007/12/20/design-research-for-sustainability/#comment-13 Dear Ezio. How are you ? Just yesterday, talking with Bartholo, I took notice of this web site and could read a bit about the conference aims, etc. I´m considering sending 2 abstracts concerning (1) design teaching and (2) design and strategy, both related to the current and foreseeing changes that we face. I´m not sure, however, if theoretical works are welcome. What do you think ? Best regards, Luiz Brasil Dear Ezio.

How are you ?

Just yesterday, talking with Bartholo, I took notice of this web site and could read a bit about the conference aims, etc.

I´m considering sending 2 abstracts concerning (1) design teaching and (2) design and strategy, both related to the current and foreseeing changes that we face. I´m not sure, however, if theoretical works are welcome. What do you think ?

Best regards,

Luiz Brasil

]]> By: Peter Jones http://www.changingthechange.org/blog/2007/12/20/design-research-for-sustainability/comment-page-1/#comment-10 Peter Jones Thu, 27 Dec 2007 19:48:47 +0000 http://www.changingthechange.org/blog/2007/12/20/design-research-for-sustainability/#comment-10 Dear CtC Team - Seasons greetings to all: I have added a link to your conference at the site and blog indicated below and hope this meets with your approval? Noting your themes and objectives the site and blog - http://hodges-model.blogspot.com/ - introduced below may in turn be of interest? Originally created in the UK by Brian E Hodges (Ret.) at Manchester Metropolitan University - Hodges' Health Career - Care Domains - Model [h2cm] http://www.p-jones.demon.co.uk/ - can help map health, social care and OTHER issues, problems and solutions. The model takes a situated and multi-contextual view across four knowledge domains: * Interpersonal; * Sociological; * Empirical; * Political. Our links pages cover each care (knowledge) domain e.g. SCIENCES: http://www.p-jones.demon.co.uk/linksTwo.htm - where another link is listed under 'Environment, Ecology & EcoSystem Health'. INTERPERSONAL: http://www.p-jones.demon.co.uk/links.htm SOCIOLOGY: http://www.p-jones.demon.co.uk/links3.htm Thank you for your time and best wishes with your plans for 2008 and beyond. Peter Jones Community Mental Health Nurse Older Adults, Independent Scholar & Informatics Specialist Bolton Lancashire UK -- h2cm: help 2C more - help 2 listen - help 2 care Dear CtC Team – Seasons greetings to all:
I have added a link to your conference at the site and blog indicated below and hope this meets with your approval? Noting your themes and objectives the site and blog -

http://hodges-model.blogspot.com/

- introduced below may in turn be of interest?

Originally created in the UK by Brian E Hodges (Ret.) at Manchester Metropolitan University -

Hodges’ Health Career – Care Domains – Model [h2cm]

http://www.p-jones.demon.co.uk/

- can help map health, social care and OTHER issues, problems and solutions. The model takes a situated and multi-contextual view across four knowledge domains:

* Interpersonal;
* Sociological;
* Empirical;
* Political.

Our links pages cover each care (knowledge) domain e.g. SCIENCES:

http://www.p-jones.demon.co.uk/linksTwo.htm

- where another link is listed under ‘Environment, Ecology & EcoSystem Health’.

INTERPERSONAL:
http://www.p-jones.demon.co.uk/links.htm

SOCIOLOGY:
http://www.p-jones.demon.co.uk/links3.htm

Thank you for your time and best wishes with your plans for 2008 and beyond.

Peter Jones
Community Mental Health Nurse Older Adults,
Independent Scholar & Informatics Specialist
Bolton
Lancashire
UK
–
h2cm: help 2C more – help 2 listen – help 2 care

]]> By: Ezio Manzini http://www.changingthechange.org/blog/2007/12/20/design-research-for-sustainability/comment-page-1/#comment-9 Ezio Manzini Sat, 22 Dec 2007 13:15:32 +0000 http://www.changingthechange.org/blog/2007/12/20/design-research-for-sustainability/#comment-9 Our definition of design research indicates what, starting the Changing the Change organisation process, we (Jorge and I) intend with this expression. This definition and, I would say the whole conference, have been proposed, also, to start a discussion on the meaning of this term. This means that, of course, all the comments and contributions are more than welcome! Given that, and speaking for myself, in the proposed definition there were two parts, corresponding to the concepts of <em>research activity</em>, in general (“the production of knowledge that can be shared and accumulated to become the starting point for new researches and specific projects”), and of <em>design research</em>, in particular (“a research activity developed with design tools, skills and sensitivity”). Of course, the both these definitions can be discussed. As a contribution to this discussion I will give my personal answers to your questions. <div class="citazione">“why … ‘designers who explore complex design issues and generate visions and solutions’ are necessarily doing design research?” </div> They are not necessarily doing design research. Their activity can be considered as a design research only if it produces a design knowledge that can be discussed, shared and accumulated. And, doing so, it can become the starting point for new researches and/or to be applied in specific projects. Of course, on this point, the discussion is open: how to define this kind of discussable and sharable knowledge? <div class="citazione">“Is design research necessarily a research activity performed by designers?” </div> Yes, if it is a research activity done with design tools, skills and sensitivity we can assume that who develop it can be considered as a designer, even if he/she does not define him/her self in this way. <div class="citazione">“What is in the activity of designers that makes this kind of research so different from the other kinds of research?”</div> The fact that, as I wrote, it is developed with design tools, skills and sensitivity. That is, with tools, skills and sensitivity that are different form those used in developing a research, for instance, in physics or in human sciences. Our definition of design research indicates what, starting the Changing the Change organisation process, we (Jorge and I) intend with this expression. This definition and, I would say the whole conference, have been proposed, also, to start a discussion on the meaning of this term. This means that, of course, all the comments and contributions are more than welcome!

Given that, and speaking for myself, in the proposed definition there were two parts, corresponding to the concepts of research activity, in general (“the production of knowledge that can be shared and accumulated to become the starting point for new researches and specific projects”), and of design research, in particular (“a research activity developed with design tools, skills and sensitivity”). Of course, the both these definitions can be discussed. As a contribution to this discussion I will give my personal answers to your questions.

“why … ‘designers who explore complex design issues and generate visions and solutions’ are necessarily doing design research?”

They are not necessarily doing design research. Their activity can be considered as a design research only if it produces a design knowledge that can be discussed, shared and accumulated. And, doing so, it can become the starting point for new researches and/or to be applied in specific projects. Of course, on this point, the discussion is open: how to define this kind of discussable and sharable knowledge?

“Is design research necessarily a research activity performed by designers?”

Yes, if it is a research activity done with design tools, skills and sensitivity we can assume that who develop it can be considered as a designer, even if he/she does not define him/her self in this way.

“What is in the activity of designers that makes this kind of research so different from the other kinds of research?”

The fact that, as I wrote, it is developed with design tools, skills and sensitivity. That is, with tools, skills and sensitivity that are different form those used in developing a research, for instance, in physics or in human sciences.

]]> By: Poonam Bir Kasturi http://www.changingthechange.org/blog/2007/12/20/design-research-for-sustainability/comment-page-1/#comment-8 Poonam Bir Kasturi Fri, 21 Dec 2007 05:33:40 +0000 http://www.changingthechange.org/blog/2007/12/20/design-research-for-sustainability/#comment-8 Trained as a designer, I still do not have a clear idea of the term design research. So Nicola, I feel the same. My way of making sense of this term is to put it in the context of my work. During a class when we were trying to understand what this term means one of my students put it well, she said, "I can use conversations as research, I never thought of it like that!" I know that young people in India do not see themselves as participating in the issues around them in a way that other cultures enable. So starting from hunches, doing dirty prototyping, testing and observing and conversing help create possibilities that otherwise do not seem feasible. I have just finished teaching a class which we called "From Common Sense to Common Pratice." My co-teacher Zackery has put some of the visualisations on his blog <a href="http://www.zackdenfeld.com/?p=118" rel="nofollow">http://www.zackdenfeld.com/?p=118</a>. For me, this is one way that design research can be defined. Also I think this way of talking will help me discuss ideas with other designers and stakeholders in a more authentic way and allow me to draw on the diversity of their experiences. Trained as a designer, I still do not have a clear idea of the term design research. So Nicola, I feel the same.
My way of making sense of this term is to put it in the context of my work. During a class when we were trying to understand what this term means one of my students put it well, she said, “I can use conversations as research, I never thought of it like that!” I know that young people in India do not see themselves as participating in the issues around them in a way that other cultures enable. So starting from hunches, doing dirty prototyping, testing and observing and conversing help create possibilities that otherwise do not seem feasible. I have just finished teaching a class which we called “From Common Sense to Common Pratice.” My co-teacher Zackery has put some of the visualisations on his blog http://www.zackdenfeld.com/?p=118. For me, this is one way that design research can be defined. Also I think this way of talking will help me discuss ideas with other designers and stakeholders in a more authentic way and allow me to draw on the diversity of their experiences.

]]> By: Nicola http://www.changingthechange.org/blog/2007/12/20/design-research-for-sustainability/comment-page-1/#comment-7 Nicola Thu, 20 Dec 2007 21:00:44 +0000 http://www.changingthechange.org/blog/2007/12/20/design-research-for-sustainability/#comment-7 With all my respect for the authors of this blog, the definition of design research doesn't define anything: it mention 8 times the word design (I also counted "design-ers"), but it does not explain why, for instance "designers who explore complex design issues and generate visions and solutions" are necessarily doing design research. Is this a provocation? Do you want this blog to come to a better definition? If so I try some other question: is design research necessarily a research activity performed by designers? Why designers? What is in there in the activity of designers that makes this kind of research so different from the other kinds of research? Please, forgive me if my questions are too stupid With all my respect for the authors of this blog, the definition of design research doesn’t define anything: it mention 8 times the word design (I also counted “design-ers”), but it does not explain why, for instance “designers who explore complex design issues and generate visions and solutions” are necessarily doing design research. Is this a provocation? Do you want this blog to come to a better definition? If so I try some other question: is design research necessarily a research activity performed by designers? Why designers? What is in there in the activity of designers that makes this kind of research so different from the other kinds of research?
Please, forgive me if my questions are too stupid

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