SI-LAB Workshop Recap: A Framework for Art and Design Research
On March 6th, DAE's Readership on Social Innovation (SI-LAB) hosted the workshop "A Framework for Art and Design Research" at Amsterdamse Hogeschool voor de Kunsten. The workshop aimed to refine the Lab's research framework, helping students contextualize their work in art and design while emphasizing the knowledge embedded in their processes and methods.
Building on the Manifesto for a Design Research Framework by Naomi Bueno de Mesquita, the workshop highlighted the academic depth in design practice. While designers often rely on intuitive processes, this framework facilitates the articulation of their value within a broader knowledge base.
After Naomi's introductory presentation, participants engaged in interactive mapping sessions led by Toni Wagner. During two sessions, they tested and iterated the framework by situating graduation project descriptions from Design Academy Eindhoven within it. In the second session, we welcomed two AHK students, who shared their projects as case studies. Through questioning their processes and methodologies, we explored the relevance of the framework for AHK students, promoting practice in self-positioning within it.
In the second session, we were joined by two AHK students who shared their projects, which we used as case studies to explore the framework. By posing questions about their processes and methodologies, we evaluated the framework's relevance for AHK students and their ability to practice positioning themselves within it.
Several key insights emerged from the workshop:
Valuable Feedback: Hands-on work with the framework yielded constructive feedback on its structure and applicability in other institutions.
Articulation Challenge: Participants discussed common difficulties in articulating design research and emphasized the need for a clearer, shared definition.
Recognition of Research: The discussions highlighted the importance of defining research within artistic and design practices.
Development Directions: Suggestions for further development included:
- Expanding the scope to encompass artistic research.
- Utilizing case studies to aid student positioning.
- Creating shared terminology and definitions.
Overall, participants were eager to engage and contribute, recognizing the framework's potential as a guiding tool for articulating their work, navigating processes, securing funding, and contextualizing research within broader art and design discussions.
This workshop represents a significant step in refining the Art and Design Research Framework, underscoring its relevance for educational institutions. We will continue fostering dialogue and collaboration to enhance resources that help students and professionals describe and position their work with clarity and confidence.
Stay tuned for updates as we integrate these insights into the project's next phase!