DESIGN DEBATE (6TH EDITION): EVIDENCE OF PRACTICE IN DESIGN RESEARCH – NECESSITY OR CONSTRAINT?
DEBATE TEAMS:
- To be announced
In the evolving landscape of engineering design, the relationship between research and practice remains a central and often contested issue. The 6th edition of the DESIGN Debate invites the community to engage in a provocative and timely discussion around the motion: “All design researchers should have clear evidence of design practice.”
As design research continues to mature and expand its theoretical foundations, questions arise regarding its connection to real-world application. Should design researchers actively demonstrate engagement with practice, or does such a requirement risk narrowing the scope of inquiry and limiting methodological diversity?
Building on the tradition of previous DESIGN Debates which have challenged assumptions about products versus systems, the role of methods, and the balance between theory and application, this year’s debate turns inward to reflect on the identity and expectations of the design research community itself.
More than a structured exchange of arguments, the DESIGN Debate serves as a platform for critical reflection and collective sense-making. It invites participants to reconsider long-held assumptions and engage in an open dialogue about the role, responsibility, and direction of design research in a rapidly changing world.
As always, the session encourages active participation from the audience, whose questions, perspectives, and final vote will ultimately shape the outcome of the debate.
FORMAT:
- The motion will be proposed and then opposed (approximately 8 minutes each side)
- Supporting statements, seconding the two viewpoints, will then be given (4 minutes each side)
- The floor (the audience) will then be invited to question the proposers and opposers
- A single final statement will be given by each side
- A vote will then be taken to determine which side has “won” the debate
