A Very Brief Introduction to

Digital Design Research

Key Points
1. What do you mean, Research?
2. Research is a Process.
3. The case of Visual Research.
 Research can be defined as the search for
knowledge, or as any systematic investigation,
with an open mind, to establish novel facts, solve
new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or
develop new theories.
Wikipedia

Research is the systematic investigation into and

study of materials and sources in order to
establish facts and reach new conclusions
Oxford, American English Dictionary
Research can
establish / disapprove
(new) facts

solve new or existing

problems

create ideas, theories,

conclusion, etc.
Existing research
as a tool
Entity
facts, ideas, problems,
theories, etc.
Existing
Entity
facts, ideas, problems,
theories, etc.
to prove
Existing
Entity
facts, ideas, problems,
theories, etc.
to
disprov
e
 New
to create,
Entity establish,
facts, ideas, and solve.
solutions, theories,
etc.

Existing
 Research is a Process of

• Formulating Questions
• Collecting Data
• Organizing and analyzing data
• Synthesizing solution and conclusion
In general, there are two types of research:

1. Quantitative
2. Qualitative
“That was
delicious!”

Qualitative Quantitative
Visual Research, is almost always:

1. Quantitative
2. Qualitative
1. Formulating
Main Question

This is extremely important, otherwise,

you are lost from the very beginning.

By finding the right question, to begin with,

you significantly eliminate the amount of work
needed into the research process.
1. Formulating
Main Question

Instead of questions like:

“What is the best design solution to save
the environment?”
1. Formulating
Main Question

It’s much better to narrow it down to:

“What is the best design solution to

warn people against using plastic bags?”
Case Study:

In professional life, many times, graphic

designers are asked to come up with
something unique. One of the most
common yet most difficult at the same time
is the LOGO.

The client might came up to you and say:

“Give me a unique logo for a brand new coffee
shop in Seattle, Washington.”
Case Study:
Some designers might pop up Adobe
software and start sketching right away... and
that’s not a very good idea.
Thing is, it’s good to do a research in order
to find something truly new. Otherwise, you
might end up with something you’ve
seen from memory, which will definitely
not be unique.

You might start with:

“How to create a logo that captures the
seafaring history of coffee and Seattle’s
 Case Study:
Seattle seaport roots?
History of Coffee?

Competitor’s
logos? “How to create a logo that captures the
seafaring history of coffee and Seattle’s
strong seaport roots?”

Symbols of
sailing?

Symbols of
coffee?
2. Data Collection

For each questions/topics, different

methods can be adopted for most
suitable of the data’s nature.

• Primary Data Observations, interview, statistic

collections, personal view points, etc.

• Secondary Literature review, collected data,

written documents, academic paper,
Data newspaper, theories, etc.

• Tertiary Data Web-board discussions, Wikipedia,

social media, etc.
Case Study:

• Primary Data
Case Study:

• Primary Data
3. Organization &
Analysis of Data

• Patterns

• Connections

• Relevance
 4. Synthesizing
Solution/Conclusion

The process from data analysis to synthesis can

sometimes be seamless, as designers may find something
striking, and an idea might come up from the moment.

Following are a few (of many) check lists

• to see if your idea works:
Use of semiotics
 Quick words on Semiotics:

Semiotics, or semiology, is the study of

signs, symbols, and signification. It is the
study of how meaning is created, not what it
is.
4. Synthesizing
Solution/Conclusion
The process from data analysis to synthesis can
sometimes be seamless, as designers may find
something striking, and an idea might come up from
the moment.
Following are a few (of many) check lists
to see if your idea works:

• Use of semiotics
• The marriage between content,
form and media.
• Budget and time limitation.
Case Study:

“...Suddenly, there she was: a 16th century

Norse woodcut of a twin-tailed mermaid, or Siren. There
was something about her – a seductive mystery mixed
with a nautical theme that was exactly what the founders
were looking for. A logo was designed around her, and
our long relationship with the Siren began...”
Case Study:
Case Study:
Some lessons, beware of
what people might see:
Some lessons, beware of what people might see:
Final words,

Research question
is very important!