ABSTRACT
Place and time are already salient for designers and architects. It is important to consider these elements in research during the design process as well, which is the focus of this chapter. The author describes her sociological research projects that have uncovered the significance of geographic, spatial, and temporal elements in people’s use of buildings and objects. Socially-informed research requires the recognition that local contexts – customs, values, and ways of life – inform the design and the research process itself. The roles of location for research and privacy for participants are discussed in terms of establishing access and trust. The element of time is elaborated, both in terms of historical context and in terms of pace and frequency of data collection moments in the research process.
