Insight 2015-Scholastic Papers From The International Design Research Symposium

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Modern design education was introduced in India in the early 1960s as a significant part of the nation-building programme undertaken by the Government of India. And, eminent American designers Charles and Ray Eames along with several other experts were invited from all over the world Inviting suggestions that would help them build the India of their dreams.

With the intention of writing The India Report a document that suggested intent as well as directions for design education pedagogy, training and research; Charles and Ray Eames travelled to all parts of the country, meeting and talking to writers, craftspeople, architects, scientists, industrialists, educators and philosophers. The report eventually laid the foundation of NID as a design institution in India, marking it not only as a product of design research but also highlighting the role of design in blending its age old practices and developing policies for the future.

We live in interesting times that are defined by exponential change and an increasingly competitive global economy. Today, design has evolved from being merely a vocation dealing with form and function to a new approach of developing business models. Cultures are connecting and converging and the need for sustainable thinking is apparent. As a resultant of our having studied living environments for thousands of years, a tremendous amount of traditional knowledge is available to us which can inspire contemporary solutions to our present problems. This is where Research plays a crucial role. Whether it is identifying market need, empathizing with cultures, understanding the context, analyzing the findings or synthesizing the end result; a multidisciplinary approach like Design Research then becomes imperative not just to publish a paper but to support system thinking and encourage industries to invest in it.

With its focus on undertaking fundamental and applied research to create cutting edge knowledge in all areas of design especially those inculcating system level contextual thinking and user understanding, NID continues to be internationally acclaimed as one of the finest educational and research institutions in the country. Standing true to its mandate and keeping in mind the increasing need as well as potential demand for design research activities, NID R&D campus Bangalore is hosting INSIGHT 2015 - inviting students, academicians, professionals, industry personnel and researchers to garner thoughts and actions on design research as our youngest campus looks forward to sharing and collaborating with institutions and industries with zeal.

Today with the India Design Council set up and NID being declared as an Institution of National Importance under the Act of Indian Parliament, the path ahead is not only in making stronger foundations in design research, both academically as well as professionally but also establishing the meaningful value it brings to services of the future.

Research is not so very unfamiliar activity to designers yet it has come to generate debates across design fraternity. The discourse stems from attempts to isplate research in design and recognize it as an independent activity as it has been the case in disciplines like science or liberal arts. With growing recognition of design for its contribution to social, cultural and economic progress, increasing number of independent design schools have been aligned or positioned at par with the university status. Accreditation and regulatory requirements further seek to create parity in standards, processes, and academic certifications across the system of education. The scenario brings in many implications for design educators and practitioners.

Design is a practice-based discipline. Its primary goal is to create something new and meaningful. The profession is expected to respond to change creatively or bring about a change. Therefore dealing with ambiguity, uncertainty, contradictions and uniqueness are integral to processes of designing In design, there are multiple ways to approach a problem-design does not create one solution only, but can offer multiple options. Rational design is not necessarily based on the logic of science. Designers across disciplines devise unique methods and processes to intuitively discover what they need to know. Such skills usually evolve with hands-on practice, perceptual learning and empathy with people. Research to develop the context, probabilities, possibilities, prototyping and validation has been common in design practice. There is constant search for new methods and processes to deal with dynamic nature of human needs and environment. These are the values appreciated and nurtured in design education both at undergraduate and graduate levels.

World around us is changing fast. There is growing complexity in the nature of problems and the ways in which they are to be addressed. Designers are making increased use of knowledge from across different disciplines, contexts, and methodologies-virtues of interdisciplinary and collaborative approach to design have been gaining ground. Design education therefore is attempting pedagogies that build on experiences in practice and ideas of interdisciplinary design thinking. The new approach of design research is to support critical exchange between practice and design theory.

With globalization, especially in the realm of the knowledge economy and emerging technologies, innovation has become a priority for the industry and society. Emerging scenarios necessitate designers to act with enhanced speed, accuracy and responsibility. They need reliable framework and approaches to advance their practice. They seek new ideas in design methods and for validating design solutions. Design research has thus emerged as a key enabler of systematic innovation.

Design education at the National Institute of Design has been rooted in research-based practice. The design research movement of 1960s that emerged in UK with foundation of Design Research Society has left influence that continues to reflect in design thinking and curriculum of NID.