Synopses & Reviews
Being a professional designer is not all about lightbulb moments. To stimulate them, and ensure you reach the best final concept, this essential guide shows how research can open fresh avenues of creativity and help readers to make informed, intelligent and targeted design decisions.
Design Research is a stimulating introduction to essential research concepts and terminology with practical briefs and 200+ images of successful design projects. All stages of the research process are considered in a dynamic and entertaining style, covering audience, context, trends, sources, documentation, dissemination and more.
• Studio interviews with Emily Hale, Andrew Hussey, Brian Rea, Jane Trustram, Underware and Tanner Christensen, and contributions from Webb and Webb, Planning Unit, StudioKxx and Fuse Collective.
• Illustrated throughout with research-led design examples, spanning poster design, packaging, typography and signage.
• Gives readers the opportunity to further explore different research methods and techniques through briefs and recommended reading lists.
Review
'In a climate where a certain six letter word search engine is fast becoming the one-stop hit for every research need, this book shows a breadth of techniques, opportunities, methodologies and suggestions that will open up your creative thinking in a way that no algorithm ever could. You don't need to hit a search button, you don't need to feel lucky. You need to read this book.'
− Barrie Tullett, The Lincoln School of Art & Design, UK
Review
'In a climate where a certain six letter word search engine is fast becoming the one-stop hit for every research need, this book shows a breadth of techniques, opportunities, methodologies and suggestions that will open up your creative thinking in a way that no algorithm ever could. You don't need to hit a search button, you don't need to feel lucky. You need to read this book.'
− Barrie Tullett, The Lincoln School of Art & Design, UK
Design Research is an easy to follow, clearly written, student-friendly guide on how to conduct research for practical projects. Although academic in content, the fact that there are direct links to professional practice throughout, gives the book a 'real world' authority. The inclusion of case studies, interviews and supporting imagery purposefully links the relevance of the content to the practice of being a designer. Carefully building in complexity as the book progresses, the importance of, practice, methods, and key terminology of research are introduced in a measured way, ensuring the reader is not overwhelmed—students who do not value research as part of the design process will not only be engaged throughout, but they will be in no doubt of its importance after reading this book. In fact, Design Research doesn't just take the reader through a step by step guide to the research process, it also highlights plenty of everyday good practice along the way. In writing this book, Leonard and Ambrose have gone a long way in validating to students what they are taught on a day to day basis in lecture theatres and workshops—Design Research should therefore be on any contextual studies reading list as a result.
− Nigel Ball, University Campus Suffolk, UK
Synopsis
Basics Graphic Design 02: Design Solutions will guide the reader through the early stages of a design project, identifying appropriate research techniques and enabling innovative solutions to be found. By identifying key terms and processes, this book will highlight good practice and direct the reader through early phases of observation, analysis and evaluation.
Synopsis
"Design Research" shows readers how to choose the best method of research in order to save time and get the right results.The book makes readers aware of all the different research methods, as well as how to carry out the most appropriate research for their graphic design projects. All stages of the research process are considered in a dynamic and entertaining style, covering audience, context, trends, sources, documentation, dissemination and more.
Students and designers can benefit from this text by learning fresh ways to analyse information obtained by data gathering, and how best to test and prove decisions. The resulting, well-rounded solutions will be informed, innovative, and aesthetically fitting for the brief.
Synopsis
AVA's Basics Graphic Design titles are designed to provide visual arts students with a theoretical and practical exploration of each of the fundamental topics within the field of graphic design. Packed with examples of from students and professionals and fully illustrated with clear diagrams and inspiring imagery, they offer an essential introduction to the subject.
Basics Graphic Design 02: Design Solutions will guide the reader through the early stages of a design project, identifying appropriate research techniques and enabling innovative solutions to be found. By identifying key terms and processes, this book will highlight good practice and direct the reader through early phases of observation, analysis and evaluation.
Synopsis
Basics Graphic Design: Design Research guides the reader through the early stages of a design project, identifying appropriate research techniques and enabling innovative solutions to be found. Throughout the book, Neil Leonard and Gavin Ambrose highlight good practice and direct students and beginning practitioners through the key processes of observation, analysis and evaluation. These techniques are crucial in helping graphic designers to produce unique designs that perfectly fit the client's brief and reach their audience.
Synopsis
Basics Graphic Design 02: Design Research will guide the reader through how to make the best use of research, in order to inform and enrich their design work. Through introducing key terminology, examining the importance of context, introducing specific research techniques and looking at how to analyze, interpret and present you research findings, the book gives the readers the tools they need to work towards innovative design solutions.The book's emphasis is on using research to help graphic designers to produce unique designs that perfectly fit the client's brief and reach their intended audience.
About the Author
Neil Leonard is a designer and educator; he currently works at the Arts University College at Bournemouth lecturing on the BA in Visual Communication. A graduate of London College of Communication, his experience of graphic design is broad and encompasses areas as diverse as typography, illustration and new media. Through each of these disciplines an investigative research interest plays a vital part and informs his freelance practice.Gavin Ambrose, a graphic designer, is the author and designer of books on branding, packaging, and editorial design. He lives in Kent, UK.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1: Why research?
The basics
Primary, secondary and tertiary research
Other forms of research
Chapter 2: Understanding context
Audience and social contexts
Design contexts
Theoretical underpinning
Chapter 3: Planning your work - considerations
The brief
Audience
Sources and credibility
Referencing
Recording and documenting
Ethics
Chapter 4: How to research
Audience research
Product and market research
Field-based research
Process-based research
Chapter 5: Using your findings
Understanding your findings
Testing
Development
Chapter 6: Presenting your findings
Presenting your research
Outcomes
Conclusion
Bibliography
Glossary
Index
Acknowledgements and credits
Working with ethics