Design research: generating knowledge through doing

Products and systems are becoming adaptive, pro-active, intelligent, ambient etc. This shift towards ‘behavioral’ products challenges product design. At the same time, design moved into universities, and thus needed a scientific basis. To meet these challenges design needs a body of knowledge and methods. In this presentation we set out our approach as it developed over the last 10 years. Our approach is rooted in phenomenological philosophy, Gibsonian perception theory, and a fundamental confidence in designerly skills. We explain these three sources of inspiration and show how they boil down to ‘reflection on action’. By means of examples from our research we explain what we mean by refection on action within the design research practice. We propose elements for a design theory. Finally, we propose a number of principles we think are essential for a design research.