Product Design: Managing the process, the competencies and the culture in a design studio

Name: José Marcelino
Year: 2012
Institution: Lisbon School of Architecture Universidade de Lisboa
Supervisors: Fernando Moreira da Silva, Henri Christiaans
Discipline: Product Design
Scope: Design Methods
Taxonomy: Praxiology
Type: Theoretical
Language: English
Wordcount / Pagecount: 128,205 / 407
Joint supervision: No

Management of the design process in a professional context

Research Process (6 methods)

1. Literature review N = x

Exploratory Qualitative

2. Questionnaire N = 12

Exploratory Qualitative

AlmaDesign designers

3. Questionnaire N = 12

Exploratory Qualitative

AlmaDesign clients

4. Document analysis N = unspecified

Generative Both

AlmaDesign archive

5. Questionnaire N = 13

Generative Qualitative

International professional designers

6. Interview N = 13

Generative Qualitative

International professional designers

#	Name of Method	Research Phase	Research Approach	Researcher Role	Object of Study / Participants	N
1	Literature review	Exploratory	Qualitative	x	x	x
2	Questionnaire	Exploratory	Qualitative	x	AlmaDesign designers	12
3	Questionnaire	Exploratory	Qualitative	x	AlmaDesign clients	12
4	Document analysis	Generative	Both	x	AlmaDesign archive	unspecified
5	Questionnaire	Generative	Qualitative	x	International professional designers	13
6	Interview	Generative	Qualitative	x	International professional designers	13

Knowledge Transfer & Exchange

Knowledge Exchange (PhD Process): Produced with input

IK&T	Academia	Design Practice	Society
Context	No	No	No
Vision	Yes	Yes	No
Means	No	No	No

Recommendations (4)

R72 Methodological Evaluation, Monitoring & Impact Priority: High

Validate the proposed design-process methodology through wider application in Almadesign projects and in other design practices using active research cycles.

Scope:: Meso → Macro
Time Horizon:: Medium
Evidence Strength:: Indicative
Feasibility:: Medium

R73 Evaluation, Monitoring & Impact Methodological Priority: High

Study in more detail how specific critical factors influence design-process development at each stage.

Scope:: Meso
Time Horizon:: Medium
Evidence Strength:: Exploratory
Feasibility:: Medium

R74 Theoretical & Conceptual Participation, Equity & Ethics Priority: Medium-High

Clarify the importance of surrounding cultural environments and cultural background for the success of creative solutions generated by the design process.

Scope:: Meso → Macro
Time Horizon:: Medium → Long
Evidence Strength:: Exploratory
Feasibility:: Medium

R75 Theoretical & Conceptual Methodological Priority: Medium-High

Investigate the role of designers’ experience and individual/collective memory in design decision making inside organizations such as design studios.

Scope:: Micro → Meso
Time Horizon:: Medium
Evidence Strength:: Exploratory
Feasibility:: Medium