User centered research methods in postgraduate teaching
Year: 2009
Editor: Clarke, A, Ion, W, McMahon, C and Hogarth, P
Author: Lebbon, Cherie; Davies, Sarah; Shippen, James
Series: E&PDE
Section: INCLUSIVE DESIGN
Page(s): 558-563
Abstract
Coventry University School of Art and Design has been a leader in postgraduate Automotive Design for over 12 years. Recently, a spread of targeted design MSc courses have been added to the School's portfolio, aimed at migrating people from one field of experience such as engineering, into industrial design. A common feature of these courses is the emphasis placed on research methods underpinning design activity. Project outputs are evaluated against the application of relevant and appropriate design principles with an expectation that the project will embody these methods. Key to this is the encouragement of inter-communication and co-designing activities. This paper explores the impact of user centred design as part of the MSc learning experience and its role in transition from one area of expertise to another. The benefits of the methods taught to the students are outlined and final project case studies presented, ranging from transport design to intensive care medic devices. These embody a range of user centred research approaches. Projects are prefaced by a taught research methods and analysis module. This covers quantitative and qualitative approaches as well as statistical analysis, there is an emphasis on ethnographic processes. The data interrogation techniques explored include error analysis, statistical and approximation methodologies, linear and non- linear programming. The effectiveness of methods for use in student projects will be discussed, both in terms of informing the approach itself but also in terms of resolving the practical constraints that the students face in conducting their work.
Keywords: User-centred research methods, pedagogy, industrial design