The 5-minute Design Process Museum

Today’s exhibit is "The Complex Field of Research: For Design, Through Design, and About Design" by Lois Frankel and Martin Racine.The theme of this diagram is the relationship between design and research. Terms like "user research" and "competitive research" are common in every industry.In the design field as well, research and design work together to elevate the quality and satisfaction of the end product.A common challenge here—especially in large corporations—is that designers and researchers are often separated, which can lead to ambiguity in ownership. Furthermore, depending on the project, sometimes it’s better to research before designing, while other times, creating a prototype first is the only way to move the discussion forward. This is why it’s crucial to clarify the order and relationship between the two.The "Complex Field of Research" diagram organizes this into three core concepts. Let’s look at them one by one.

Today’s exhibit is Richard Buchanan’s "Four Orders of Design."Nowadays, the word "design" has expanded far beyond mere aesthetics or forms. Design is used to create everything from experiences and business models to organizations.The root of this broad perspective can be traced back to today’s diagram: the "Four Orders of Design." As the name suggests, it categorizes design into four distinct layers. Let’s walk through them one by one.