Towards Evidence-Based Research and Cross-Disciplinary Design Practice

Abstract

As the world changes, problems that businesses and society are facing are becoming more complex. Design, as a field that sits between business and society, as well as culture and technology, continues to progress and to mature as a profession. As a result, the concept of design (what design is and does) constantly changes, evolves, and expands. In return, design today is being recognized as a field whose primary purpose is to help businesses, communities, and individuals in new and innovativeways. Through a review of the current trends in the field of design, this chapter highlights why design thinking, which in the past has often been driven by tacit knowledge, intuition, and personal preference, is now increasingly being enhanced with proficiency in cross-disciplinary, evidence-based research. This approach to design represents a willingness to look beyond the immediate concern of elementary project execution. Designers who are proficient in research methods that range fromethnography and case study development to human-centred design research and action research can be invaluable to any sector that seeks innovation. The use of evidence-based research capable of transcending disciplinary boundaries projects a greater sense of accountability and transparency and can create more confidence in the work that designers produce.