Conceptual collisions happen during research, whether it’s from in-depth conversations with colleagues, attending lectures outside of your field, or a fortuitous water cooler encounter.

• Are there ways to make these Conceptual Collisions more probable?
• What would it look like to take a more deliberate approach to this type of Integration?

To answer these questions, I look at the research spectrum and see different ways for conceptual collisions in research to happen.  I'm interested in prototyping ways to integrate small amounts of novelty (design research practices) within the existing scientific process (conventionality).

Answering these questions depends on the purpose of the research – what is for?  And who is it for?

APPLIED RESEARCH:  INVENTIONS THAT SERVE HUMAN NEEDS

Applied research will often focus on developing solutions or technological advancements.  

Designers will often use user-centered design practices, where emphasis is placed on understanding human needs, behavior, and outcomes desired to inform the appropriate solutions.  This shift to a "problem-oriented" viewpoint, rather than solution-focused is particularly important to ensure that technology is developed to serve human needs (rather than the other way around).  A core tenant of a "problem oriented" viewpoint is the practice of "reframing" when certain assumptions needs to be challenges or when problems are particularly complex.

BASIC AND TRANSNATIONAL RESEARCH. WHAT IS THE ROLE OF DESIGN UPSTREAM OF APPLIED RESEARCH?

The role of design in scientific discovery and translational research efforts is much more open ended.  Here the focus is on knowledge creation and integration.  The development or delivery of a tangible product or service is often not the final outcome.  Again, the role of design can be targeted and specific depending on the stage and intent of the research including:

• Idea Generation
• Question/Problem Framing and Reframing
• Data visualization and communication of outcomes
• Interdisciplinary Research and co-creation strategies
• Team Performance measurement and evaluation
• Peer-Review