Shaping the design research revolution

In 2008 the author published a paper that critiqued the state of design research. It contained an anatomy of design research, analysed its assumptions and considered the anomalies that were emerging at the time, making a case for revolutionizing the field, and mapped out two directions for further development. Over the last 5 years, that paper has sparked keen interest and it has been quoted extensively. In this paper we will pick up the thread and report on the development of a research centre that embodies some of the changes proposed in the paper, shaping a specific version the design research revolution. This paper is built up as follows: first, the arguments of the original paper will be retraced briefly. Then the question that drives the exploration of the current paper will be elaborated and the central case study will be introduced, by describing the methodological research program and the applied research centre that serves as its platform. We will end with an informal evaluation, and position the conclusions within the broader discussion on the role of academic research in today's society. © 2013 The Design Society, unless otherwise stated