On Context, Concepts and Research: An Approach in Basic Design

Abstract

World Design Organization re-defines the practice of industrial design as a “strategic problem solving process that is used to develop products, systems, services and experiences”. Such an expansion of the field makes product an intangible thing that depends more on research and necessitates re-elaboration of education. Within this context, the focus of this study is the place of research in basic design education in industrial design. The study investigates basic design students’ product development and research processes during 2015-2016 academic year. The so-called problem definitions reflects a transition from a defined product, to a product that the student defines and constructs. As the scale of construction expanded, the impact of research also expanded. Within the study, the students’ approach to problem definitions are analysed with their final products and research processes.