Communities of Practice in Design Research

• Main Author: Sharon Helmer Poggenpohl
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier
• Series: She Ji: The Journal of Design, Economics and Innovation
• Subjects: Design research; Research education; Integrating research and practice; Collaboration
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405872615300204

Based on observed changes in design focus largely due to the widespread availability of technology, design research and its role in education and practice need to be newly situated. Design itself is taking on new challenges. Former requirements for legitimate teaching of design are called into question along with the vague classification and understanding of research generally, or in relation to design specifically. Research, theory, and practice are interrelated design elements; they are not isolated; together they can form the basis for developing more useful and specific communities of practice. Related research traditions or domains of interest provide scaffolding, critique, and clear communication for such communities. Design research, as an integral part of design education at all levels, requires its own curricular scaffolding. As more collaborative work is undertaken, designers need to understand other disciplinary approaches to research; their internal presumptions, accepted processes, assessments of validity, and limitations.