All the different Design Research examples we learned about this semester all have one common characteristic that appeals to me. The humanistic factor. This includes design by, for, or with, humans. I believe that all humans want human interaction, they want to express themselves. As designers I feel that it is important for us to help people, and show them how to do this in a way that can produce beautiful results. These design ideas can be expressed through such work as ambiguity, Visual Research, Naturalistic Observation, Design Research objects, or Social Media. People are also looking for authenticity. All of these methods of research have the capability to provide for people things they can relate to, things that are approachable and humanistic. My hope is that this humanistic branch of Design Research will continue to expand so that more people can feel connected and empowered.

Below is the map that we created to express the writings and designers that inspired us, how they related to the Design Reserach we were exposed to and specifically what intrigued me about them. We also had a final paper that expressed our interests which you can download and read.


(click on image of map to view full size pdf version)