Designing: Design Knowledge: Design Research: Related Sciences

Abstract

At present we are questioning design methods from a different point of view. We are working with computers and trying to decode the methods of the professional practice into computers to be used by the professional practitioners in their turn. These approaches lead us to the investigation of the design knowledge of designers. The understanding of the design knowledge, a part of design research, requires investigation into designing activity. Design research obligates us to apply different approaches and the methods of different disciplines. But in the elicitation of the design knowledge we have to consider the information known by the designers, how that information is gained, how that information is processed, how and when it is used while solving such a design problem. Several disciplines are used in the design process, according to their relevance to the problem area. When we look at a multi-disciplinary area such as designing, we must clarify the disciplines or sciences involved, and their relation to design must be studied.