The tools of design research, writes Brenda Laurel, will allow designers "to claim and direct the power of their profession." Often neglected in the various curricula of design schools, the new models of design research described in this book help designers to investigate people, form, and process in ways that can make their work more potent and more delightful. "At the very least," Peter Lunenfeld writes in the preface, "design research saves us from reinventing the wheel. At its best, a lively research methodology can reinvigorate the passion that so often fades after designers join the profession." Table of Contents Preface: The Design Cluster Peter Lunenfeld 10 Introduction: Muscular Design Brenda Laurel 16 Acknowledgments Brenda Laurel 20 People Section Introduction: The Changing Role of Research Christopher Ireland 22 Qualitative Methods: From Boring to Brilliant Christopher Ireland 23 Ethnography and Critical Design Practice Tim Plowman 30 The Paradox of Design Research Bonnie McDaniel Johnson 39 Designing for the New Old Eric Dishman 41 Demo: Design Improvisation Brenda Laurel 49 Hispanic Culture in Design Research Carlos Santos 55 Overview of Quantitative Methods in Design Research Stacey Purpura 63 User Requirements Abbe Don and Jeff Petrick 70 Form Section Introduction: Design (As) Research Anne Burdick 82 Speculation, Serendipity and Studio Anybody Lisa Grocott 83 Toward a Definition of the Decorational Denise Gonzales Crisp 94 Demo: DesignWriting Anne Burdick 101 Sensory Anomalies Michael Naimark 109 Spontaneous Cinema as Design Practice Rachel Strickland 118 Game Forms for New Outcomes Emma Westecott 129 Strategy, Tactics and Heuristics for Research Rob Tow 135 Process Section Introduction: Test Pilots Brenda Laurel 144 Bringing Clarity to the "Fuzzy Front End" Darrel Rhea 145 Research Methods for Designing Effective Experiences Nathan Shedroff 155 Enabling Design Sean Donohue 164 Non-Assumptive Research Dorothy Deasy 172 Play as Research Eric Zimmerman 176 Demo: Creating a Culture of Design Research Eric Zimmerman 185 Interdisciplinary Design Research Patrick Svensson 193 Conceptual Designs B. J. Fogg 201 Moving Your Idea Through Your Organization Christopher Loch 212 Demo: Vibe-Hunting Somi Kim 221 Living Proof Tracy Moon 225 Research to Fuel the Creative Process David Canaan 234 Action Section Introduction: Reports from the Field Brenda Laurel 242 "You Can't Bring That Game to School!" Kurt Squire and Philip Tan 244 SimSmarts Will Wright and Brenda Laurel 253 Social Impact by Design Darion Rapoza 260 Researching America's Army Margaret Davis 268 A Virtual Walk on the Moon Bruce Damer 276 Demo: Mobium Jin Hyun Park 285 Research and the Movies Buffy Shutt 293 Real Brand Alignment David Masten 309 Conclusion: Beauty, Brains and Bravery Brenda Laurel 316 References and Acknowledgments 317 Index 323 Biographies 329