[IxDA Discuss] Semantics: "Design Research" and "User Research"

[Gretchen Anderson]

Design Research is research that informs the design of a
product/products that may or may not involve talking to users.

User Research is research that involves talking to users. It most often
is used to inform the design of a product but might also be used to
define an opportunity area before a product has specifically been
envisioned.

-----Original Message-----
From: discuss-bounces at lists.interactiondesigners.com
[mailto:discuss-bounces at lists.interactiondesigners.com] On Behalf Of Rob
Tannen
Sent: Saturday, March 29, 2008 1:14 PM
To: IxDA Discuss
Subject: [IxDA Discuss] Semantics: "Design Research" and "User Research"

I often see (and use) the terms Design Research and User Research
interchangeably, although I believe they are overlapping, but different.

-Design Research: This is the broader term.  It can refer to the study
of design itself (meta-research, if you will).  It can also refer to
research done in the context of design, but that can include research on
materials, processes, users, etc.  For example, comparing different
types of display technologies, from the perspectives of cost, power
consumption or legibility are all cases of design research.

-User Research: The study of the users of a product or system (or
potential users for a new one), that can include ethnography, usability
testing, etc to inform the appropriate design of that product. 

So according to my definitions, User Research is really a type of Design
Research, and not all Design Research is User Research.  

Is there any consensus on this (loaded question)?

Best Regards,

Rob Tannen, PhD
Director of Research
 
direct 215-209-3042
main 215-561-5100
www.bresslergroup.com

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