Applied research and innovation framework

This paper explores industrial (product) design domain and the artifact’s contribution to knowledge generation. It discuses the artifact’s research situated within the social structure that constitutes people, activity, context and culture where an artifact is position to be a “mediator” for the generation of new knowledge and its application. Within this concept the generation and application of knowledge were distinguish through the following four research modes: (i) research before the design work is started, (ii) concurrent research conducted during the early stage of the design process, (iii) concurrent research carried out during the design and development stage and (iv) research when an artifact is manufactured and is on the market. The paper demonstrates how new knowledge can be generated by research around the artifacts as “mediators of knowledge”, how this new knowledge is represented by them and how it can be applied. It also clearly distinguishes strategic role of research and design within the different research modes and supports integration between research and application