ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book focuses on describing and clearly defining what makes up the ontological reality of design. It presents what is known here as the ‘research framework’, which comprises the researcher’s view of the world and their own design perspective, which guides and gives meaning to their work. The book explores the possibility of adopting pragmatism as a philosophical perspective for supporting and guiding design research. It proposes three categories: research for the development of the design discipline; research for design innovation; and research through the ontological reality of design. The book identifies graphic design, industrial design, space design, interior design, service design, experience design, costume design, architecture, etc., as specific manifestations of the general design discipline. It exposes an analysis regarding different ways of approaching reality, they closely link which to the so-called ‘research paradigms’.
