project 1: design research

“The tools of design research allow designers “to claim and direct the power of their profession.” B. Laurel

“Research is “the act of extending the boundary of a design situation so as to have large enough, and fruitful enough, search space in which to seek a solution.” C. Jones

brief
Research a sub-culture and document your findings in a book.

project objectives
• Understand and employ various design research methodologies and analysis techniques.
• Gain a comprehensive understanding of user motivation and define unique audience characteristics, values and cues (for use in subsequent class projects in UX and IA).
• Showcase excellent digital craftsmanship, information organization and visualization.
• Work collaboratively.

deadlines/deliverables
Note: the dates indicate section 02 first (MW am), section 01 second (WF pm).
1. 1/23, 1/25: assign sub-cultures
2. 1/25, 1/27: share secondary research
3. 1/30, 2/1: review field research
4. 2/1, 2/3: present research (5-7 min)
secondary research, interview, field reporting data

5. 2/6, 2/8 — 7. 2/13, 2/15: review analysis
2/15 guest critic
8. 2/15, 2/17: present analysis (5-7 min)
personas, audits, diagrams, visual analysis

9. 2/20, 2/22: review book design directions
10. 2/22, 2/24: review progress (half complete)
11. 2/27, 2/29: review near-final book
12. 2/29, 3/2: final crit (7-10 min)

sub-cultures
avid marathoner, pub trivia geek, urban chicken farmer, roller derby girl, yogi, hipster knitter, motorcycle enthusiast, wiccan, bbq competitor, francophile

resources/required readings
• Audience consent form (required signature from all interviewees)
• Designing for Interaction
• Design Research, Ed. Brenda Laurel, p 22-23 (“Section one introduction”)
• Design Research, Ed. Brenda Laurel, p 30-33, 36-37 (“Ethnography and Critical Design Practice”)
• Visual Communication by Jonathan Baldwin, p 74-77, 96-97• GD305-design-research-lecture