Basics Graphic Design 02: Design Research

Neil Leonard is Associate Head of the Department of Design Communication at the University of the West of England, UK.Gavin Ambrose is a practicing graphic designer and teaches the Graphic Design BA at the University of Brighton, UK.

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.

• ContentsIntroductionChapter 1: The basics of researchWhy research?Getting startedPrimary, secondary and tertiaryKey terminologyStudio interview - Emily HaleActivity - Approaching researchChapter 2: Understanding contextAudience and social contextsDesign contextsTheoretical underpinningStudio interview - Andrew HusseyActivity - ConventionChapter 3: Planning your workThe briefAudienceSources and credibilityRecording and documentingStudio interview - Brian ReaActivity - AudienceChapter 4: Conducting researchAudience researchMarket researchField-based researchProcess-based researchStudio interview - Jane TrustramActivity - Product and customerChapter 5: Using your findingsUnderstanding your findingsResponding to your findingsStudio interview - UnderwareActivity - ClassificationChapter 6: Presenting your findingsPresenting researchCompleting the jobStudio interview - Tanner ChristensenActivity - Presenting statisticsConclusionContactsBibliographyIndexAcknowledgementsWorking with ethics