This statement gives an overall summary of the aims and achievements of the research work and scholarship carried out by the author during her time at The University of Manchester (and UMIST - now part of The University of Manchester) for which the publications presented give evidence. The research has been about exploring the design process, the activities and issues, and elements involved - from both an industry and student point of view. The publications explore design pedagogy, the skills required by designers and how these might fit into a curriculum for design today.In three parts it summarises the publications presented, reviews the main aspects of design and the current state of knowledge and research in design and summarises the core aspects as distilled from over 36 years practice, research and scholarship.The driver for much of the research undertaken has been to gain a better understanding of the core aspects of design - what key knowledge and skills are required by designers to allow the consistent design of better products and services which enhance the experiences of users. The work presented investigates design and design methods: the activities and processes and the elements involved. It considers responses to designs, the emotional aspect of design - why some designs are preferred over others, why some colour combinations are more desirable, and why repetition is so important to the human psyche. Underpinning the work presented are three research questions. • Are design rules and processes generic for whatever is being designed? • Can a better understanding of design theory and the emotional response to designs ensure a more effective process and thus lead to stronger designs? • Can students be educated to be better design thinkers and ultimately better designers? It concludes that: • 'design' is a process; • design is a problem-solving process and problem-solving is a design process; • for the most effective outcomes a creative and structured approach is required; • this process is based on generic rules and principles which are applicable across all discipline areas; • collaborative/cross disciplinary elements reinforce the concept that there are processes involved that are not unique to individuals or discipline specific; • a greater understanding of the process is of benefit to all individuals and organisations; • any design/problem solving activity will normally result in more than one solution option. The results of the research have informed the author's teaching practice and have been disseminated through publications to benefit the wider education arena. The work presented aims to inform students and design education practitioners.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:538498 |
| Date | January 2011 |
| Creators | Wilson, Jacqueline Anne |
| Contributors | Sinha, Pammi |
| Publisher | University of Manchester |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/core-design-aspects(2b99527b-6153-45c0-895b-3ebb43207557).html |
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