Research through Designers : A Pictorial Reflection on Engagements, Encounters, and Environments at a Design Research Jamboree

Berger, Arne and Weller, Julia and Sturdee, Miriam and Green, David Philip and Benjamin, Jesse and Soro, Alessandro and Gamboa, Mafalda and Lindley, Joseph (2024) Research through Designers : A Pictorial Reflection on Engagements, Encounters, and Environments at a Design Research Jamboree. In: DRS2024: Research Papers :. DRS2024 Boston: Design Research Society Conference 2024 . Design Research Society, USA. ISBN 9781912294626

Abstract

We picture design researchers’ engagement with the task of capturing the value of Research through Design during a week-long event. The images are selected to document set and seYng, hands-on ac>vi>es, human and more-than-human en- counters, and material engagements with the theories, methods, and prac>ces of design research. The text is deliberately minimal, offering contextualiza>on from the photographer and the organizer of the event, as well as commentary from aIendees on material outcomes and bodily presences; context and environment; disciplinary esthe>cs; and social commentary from two non-aIendees. We offer this record of process to inspire design researchers to further engage with prac>cal, hands-on, close-up, personal, bodily reflec>ve engagements of what it means to do design re- search. We also aim to further advance the form of primarily photographic pictorials in HCI.