Over the course of the last few weeks I have been working on a research project with Rafi Ajl. Together we went to the San Francisco Transfer Station to learn about the folks who work there and report back to the class about them. One main requirement of the project was to communicate empathy during our presentation.
For the most part, I feel the project and presentation were successful. Yet, as with most things in my D.R. class, it had challenges. The main challenge was one I experienced within previous projects; that being reconciling real data with the pressure for data which is compelling. (One of the requirements for credit in this project was that the insights captured be "non-obvious and interesting"). In my opinion if this is the same pressure people are presented with in the real-world Design Research community, it won't be long until their is an expose revealing bogus data found in some high profile project.
I understand completely how valuable it is to find interesting insights during research. However, I believe this pressure for interesting data corrupts any attempt to make a quality (objective) insight. I am curious about what might be examples of research which has led directly to a successful new service or product. Was the iPod developed within the structures of Design Research?
I'm still suspicious of you Design Research...Just sayin.
No comments:
Post a Comment