HOW MUCH DESIGN DOES RESEARCH NEED: AN INQUIRY OF THE SYNERGETIC POTENTIAL OF METHODS OF SOCIAL AND DESIGN RESEARCH.
Year: 2015
Editor: Christian Weber, Stephan Husung, Marco Cantamessa, Gaetano Cascini, Dorian Marjanovic, Srinivasan Venkataraman
Author: Dittenberger, Sandra; Koscher, Andrea
Series: ICED
Institution: New Design University, Austria
Section: Design Theory and Research Methodology, Design Processes
Page(s): 107-116
ISBN: 978-1-904670-65-0
ISSN: 2220-4334
Abstract
This paper presents the findings of a study with end-user involvement with the ultimate goal to test the synergetic potential of methods of two different research realms: on the one hand methods of qualitative social research and on the other hand methods of design research. The case for the appliance of this new mixed methods approach is the end-user requirements engineering phase 1 for the research project RelaxedCare, organized and co-funded within the Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) Joint Programme of the European Commission. The purpose of the project is to develop solutions and products to connect elderly persons (assisted persons) and their relatives/friends (informal caregivers) in order to create a more relaxed care situation. AAL projects use in general quantitative and qualitative methods of social research for accessing user requirements. For the phase 1 of the end-user requirements engineering methods of both areas are chosen to find out if a trans-disciplinary research approach would reveal more significant findings concerning their translation in a holistic product development process and aim at creating a "best of both" research methodology.
Keywords: Early Design Phases, Requirements, Research Methodologies And Methods, User Centred Design, Visualisation