Today, designers design services, processes and organizations; craft skills no longer suffice. We need to discover, define and solve problems based upon evidence. We need to demonstrate the validity of our claims. We need Design Research, but as special kind of research, with methods appropriate to the applied, constructive nature of design. We need a book on research for designers that can educate students and be a reference for professionals. And here it is: Gjoko Muratovski's masterful book for 21st century designers. (Don Norman)
The nature of my work, as a practising Industrial Designer for many years has made it unavoidable for me to consider large questions—design is no longer a thought system for creating a product but has become a method of contemplating existence. Today, as designers, we are exploring a new vision; a vision that seeks to apply creativity to challenges of our age, namely digital technology and information. The designer of today is involved with designing experiences, not just looks and appearances. New ideas will be meaningful only if we can coordinate physical, sensual and cultural forces. Gjoko Muratovski offers a structure to free the spirit of designers’ way of experimentation. Research for Designers gives the reader a pair of wings to transcend limitation and do original work. (Suresh Sethi)
‘Doing by design' will be advanced significantly by Gjoko Muratovski’s book
Research for Designers. The book clearly explains how effective cross-disciplinary discovery and delivery of strategic solutions to complex problems needs to begin with targeted and credible research of the problem area, the ecosystem, the context, and the stakeholders involved. While the book provides a great overview for designers that are interested in learning about research methods and how to use them, the application of this book goes further.
Research for Designers is also useful to strategists and decision-makers as it can expand their problem-solving toolkit to incorporate design research and practice in the pursuit of new, original and better outcomes. This is an excellent resource for both students and developing design practitioners. (Jane Treadwell)
Inspiring and engaging. Muratovski gives us a visionary preview on the future of design. He argues that design is transforming from ‘problem-solving’ to ‘problem-finding’—something every company, from startups to multinationals, needs in today’s hyper-connected and fast-changing world. Muratovski provides the context and, more importantly, the implications of the rise of design as a powerful competitive advantage. If you want to know more about the role of design in the past, present and where design is headed, start here
(David R. Butler)
Enlightened decisions. Breakthrough innovation. Insightful insights. Great outcomes begin with in-depth design research. Thankfully, Gjoko Muratovski has written the definitive compendium that not only covers ‘how’ to best conduct design research but ‘why’ it is such a vital ingredient to success. Although intended for design students, I believe Muratovski’s manual offers a far broader appeal. Strategists, business leaders, policy makers, anyone who wants to enhance and advance their research proficiency to achieve a better outcome should read this book. I know I’ll be sharing copies with my colleagues. (Maureen Thurston)
Design is a field with a relatively a short history. Design Research has even a shorter one. Regardless of that, since John Chris Jones’s Design Methods there have been quite a few books on design methods that follow changes in the fundamental nature, scale and complexity of design problems. However, the existing books in the field mainly deal with design methods and tools for different stages of the design process. It is hard to find a serious method book for design research, despite the rapid emergence of doctoral programs in design, design research journals and design research conferences. In this regard, Research for Designers is a welcome contribution to the world of design academia as it discusses methods for carrying out systematic design research. Furthermore, this book allows the reader to choose methods for design research according to different types of design problems and not only for the different stages of the design process. In this respect, Research for Designers will be useful not only to postgraduate students and academics engaged in serious design research, but also to practicing designers dealing with large-scale, complex and cross-disciplinary design problems. (Kun-Pyo Lee)
Design’s importance in social, cultural and economic terms has never been greater. So it’s a surprise that the design research community has waited so long for an authoritative and comprehensive handbook on research methods which further our understanding and knowledge of the process of designing.
Research for Designers fills this gap in the literature. There’s no doubt it will become a seminal reference for those seeking to undertake research in the field. (Seymour Roworth-Stokes)
Research for Designers explores design research based on a panorama of the evolution of design. It is a useful book for designers, educators and researchers. It is also a meaningful book, as it opens the window for enriching and improving the rationalities between design and a possible better world. While facing a new era of design activism, a new culture of knowledge creation should be involved as part of the agenda. Gjoko Muratovski’s work makes a concrete step forward. (Yongqi Lou)
Flexible production technology and new business models enable companies to make almost anything. The unintended consequences include consumers confused by too many choices and managers not knowing what to make. Design offers new ways for executives to understand and fulfil people’s needs and aspirations; however, the informality of design knowledge prevents design operating at the speed and scale that is needed.
Research for Designers is a major contribution to giving structure to design knowledge. This book will help companies succeed by helping people have better lives. (Patrick Whitney)
Gjoko Muratovski’s
Research for Designers provides a structured approach to introducing design students and new researchers to design research. Designers embarking on research have often found it to be challenging to find books that are able to provide them with the necessary advice and guidance for success. This book helps to overcome this challenge by taking the reader through the research process from defining the research problem through to the literature review on to data collection and analysis. With such practical and useful chapters this book should prove to be essential reading in design schools across the world. (Tracy Bhamra)
Instructors - Electronic inspection copies are available or contact your local sales representative for an inspection copy of the print version.
'Today, designers design services, processes and organizations; craft skills no longer suffice. We need to discover, define and solve problems based upon evidence. We need to demonstrate the validity of our claims. We need a guide to design research that can educate students and be a reference for professionals. And here it is: a masterful book for 21st century designers.'
- Don Norman, Professor and Director of Design Lab, University of California San Diego, and former Vice President, Advanced Technologies, Apple
'Muratovski provides a structured approach to introducing students and researchers to design research and takes the reader through the research process from defining the research problem to the literature review on to data collection and analysis. With such practical and useful chapters, this book should prove to be essential reading in design schools across the world.'
- Tracy Bhamra, Professor of Sustainable Design and Pro Vice-Chancellor of Enterprise, Loughborough University
Design is everywhere: it influences how we live, what we wear, how we communicate, what we buy, and how we behave. In order for designers to design for the real world, defining strategies rather than just implementing them, they need to learn how to understand and solve complex, intricate and often unexpected problems. This book is a guide to this new creative process. With this book in hand, students of design will:
- understand and apply the vocabulary and strategies of research methods
- learn how to adapt themselves to unfamiliar situations
- develop techniques for collaborating with non-designers
- find and use facts from diverse sources in order to prove or disprove their ideas
- make informed decisions in a systematic and insightful way
- use research tools to find new and unexpected design solutions.
Research for Designers is an essential toolkit for a design education and a must-have for every design student who is getting ready to tackle their own research.