Designing Design Research 2


Professor Martin Woolley
Professor Martin Woolley
Design Studies,
Goldsmiths College,
University of London.
New Cross
London.

OHP Overview

Design 'Publications' and the UK University RAE.

.

1996 RAE -
Definition of Research
for all panels:

  • 'original' investigation undertaken in order to gain knowledge and undestanding'

  • 'includes work of direct relevance to the needs of commerce and industry as well as to the public and volutary sectors; scholarship; the invention and generation of ideas, images, performances and artefacts including design, where these lead to new substantially improved insights; and the use of existing knowledge in experimental development to produce new or substantially improved materials, devices, products and processes, including design and construction.

    • 1996 RAE
    UoA 64 - Art & Design
    Assessment Criteria:

    2. In addition to cited research the panel will take into account the following:

  • external recognition and evidence of a research culture within the department (RA5 & RA6)
  • postgraduate research activity (RA3)
  • external research funding (RA4)
    • Research can be:

  • BASIC - investigative with no practical application in mind
    ......finding out about design.
  • STRATEGIC - for some future application
    ......improving the design process.
  • APPLIED - to meet immediate goals
    ......improving designs.

    'All research, whether applied or basic/strategic, will be given equal weight: panels will be concerned only with the quality of the work submitted for review' (Ref:RAE96 1/94)

    • Research Dissemination
    Linked to
    Product Development Key Stages

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    In-Company Research
    Case Study
    Information Sources

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    Teaching Company Schemes
    A Design Research Model

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    Courtesy of Tom Innes - Brunel University

    1996 RAE - UoA 64 ART & DESIGN Published Assessment Criteria
    Assessment of Research

    3. In assessing the research against the published rating scale, the Panel will also assess the significance that the reseach has had or is likely to have within the relevant industries, professions and academe at national and international levels.

    4. In this context, significance can be expect to be characterised by one or more of the following factors:

  • the level of innovation; aesthetic, intellectual, technical or functional
  • the degree of recognition and influence within the profession
  • design responsiveness to market or user needs
  • the degree of contribution to new knowledge
    • Relevant Outputs and 'Publication' Standards.
    5. Anticipated cited outputs include:
    		Related Factors taken into account:
    exhibitions and commissions:
    artworks, artefacts, designs, curatorships, etc.     		the standing and editorial policies of the commissioning museum or the exhibition venue.
    media presentations:
    film. video, performances etc.     		the standing and editorial policies of the commissioning body or the performance venue.
    mass production:
    product, industrial, graphic, textile and fashion design, etc.     		the standing and reputation of the commissioning organisation or company.
    publications:
    books, journals, papers, electronic publications, etc.     		the standing and editorial policies of the publisher
    Design Practice Evidence for Audit:

  • Evidence of personal role & contribution within a design team or organisation
  • Evidence of the scope of the design input (minor adjustment or major NPD)
  • Evidence of 'publication' (production & consumption) and its significance.
  • Evidence of identity ans status of commissioning organisation.
    • Potential Research Outcomes
    related to New Product Development

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    Common RAE Problems

  • Basic misconception- the exercise does not directly evaluate research, RAE assesses the external significance and standing of research outputs.
  • Difficulties with audited material- lack of evidence of dissemination (appropropriate verification should identity the nature and research content of each output and the means whereby output is published, manufactured and disseminated within the public domain.)
  • Inconsistent and inaccurate citations- (continuous record keeping)
  • shortage of cited works in craft and design consultancy areas
  • engineering-based design- which would be returned to appropriate engineering UOA.

    • Achieving quality published outputs:

  • academic rigour
  • alignment with institutional aims and resources
  • complementary theoretical and practical investigation
  • varied, high profile dissemination from a developing 'core' knowledge base.
    • 1996 RAE -UoA Art & Design culture:
    Evidence of a research culture:

  • a match between stated aims and research outputs
  • a responsiveness to quality issues
  • recruitment of, and support for, postgraduate reseach students
  • research collaboration with other HEIs
  • major external funding of individuals or groups
    • The Department - an holistic approach

  • Is research (culture) still developing?
  • Is the research infrastructure sound?
  • Is there a relationship between research output and policy?
  • Is the research nourishing other activities in the Department?
  • Is there a unique quality present in the research (culture)?
  • Is the research (culture) essentially mechanistic or gneuinely innovative?

    • Please use the following to cite material from Designing Design Research 2.

    Author(s), "Title of Paper", in Designing Design Research 2:The Design Research Publication, Cyberbridge-4D Design at www.4d-dynamics.net/DDR2, Editor- Alec Robertson, 26 February 1998.

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