Research is an integral part of the design process. Successful research means you have a good starting point for your folio and it provides a platform for idea generation. Research needs to be selective, but diverse in the sources used. Do not fill your pages with unnecessary images but rather be selective so it inspires you to develop your own diverse ideas and concepts. It is imperative that the research undertaken be broad, looking at both local and international design, and thorough.

Research needs to be undertaken for both communication needs. You may want to have all of your research that relates to both needs towards the front of your folio, or have research at the beginning of each design process. All existing imagery must be clearly referenced and references should be placed as close as possible to the image and not in a bibliography at the end of your folio.

Complete Research from a range of sources that covers both communication needs. Your Research must address the following:

• Research both communication needs
• From a range of sources
• Synthesis (the combination of components or elements to form a connected whole) research
• Use Design thinking
• Use referencing
• Use Observational Drawings from existing products
• Annotations

Effective and higher scoring research is made by visiting a variety of sources. Using the internet alone is not sufficient to demonstrate a creative and divergent approach to collecting ideas that will inform your design work.

Sources you should use include;

• your own photos
• scrap booking
• surveys
• dedicated internet sites
• design books
• libraries
• field trips
• social media posts
• magazines
• pop culture, TV, Youtube

1. AUDIENCE MEMBER PROFILE

Make a detailed profile containing pictures and text to describe a target audience member. Show how they look, their age and other audience characteristics, their interests and purchasing preferences.

2. SURVEY YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE

Make a Google forms survey to obtain data on how your target audience perceives and reacts to examples of products, designs, colors, shapes, type or images. Survey a range of people in the audience group. Collect and process the data.

3. WHO ELSE MAKES IT?

Who else makes it? Research the client and similar clients. Describe them. When did their business begin, why did it? Where are they located? Are they mass or niche market?

4. MOOD BOARD/ AUDIENCE COLLAGE

Make a visual survey of the hobbies, past times and preferences of members of your target audience. Collect images that describe what they look like, like or images that they might like. Include words to describe the values that unite your audience. Are they all the same? Are there differences between members of your audience?

1. MIND-MAP

Make an ultra-detailed mind-map to investigate several different aspects or directions that could be taken to interpret the breadth of the product you are to design. Think histories, forms, materials, functions, sizes, etc., for each branch of the mind-map. Make connections across the branches with descriptions where possible.

2. RANGE OF SIMILAR PRODUCTS

Collect a diverse range of similar products.

Search for products at different ends of the market from your target audience.

Search for products from different countries, periods of time and cultures from your target audience.

Synthesise you results by sorting, grouping, classifying, naming and justifying your groups.

3. KNOW THE BACK STORY

How long has the design you’re researching been around for? Was there anything that came before it? Go on a treasure hunt to find out? Collect information about similar products as far back as you can go. Name and date them so you can arrange them in order. Map trends in style use of text, image content, style or form.

Creative, Critical and Reflective Thinking strategies are used to

• guide investigation around a expanding on a communication need
• analyse and evaluate information
• sort and classify information to direct the Design Process with relevance to the brief
• synthesise ideas and key features of designs. This can be achieved by;
  • sketching and combining images and ideas
  • sketching relevant parts of images and ideas
  • cutting and combining ideas in new ways or contexts
  • analysing colours in swatches, colour schemes
  • analysing type and layout by annotating type anatomy and components of a grid
• reflect on how similar design problems may have been or have not been solved successfully by others
• predict the challenges that might lie ahead of us and what might need to be done to solve them

• Identify the kinds of research being undertaken
• Identify, describe, analyse and evaluate research including;
  • aesthetic and functional qualities and considerations
  • effectiveness in engaging and maintaining the interest of the target audience
  • effectiveness in their present role including purpose and context
  • relationships with environmental, technological, economic, social, historical, stylistic factors that shape design
  • how they may contribute to the development of ideas for the present communication need
• Link areas of research
• Structure, sort and categorise research
• Predict your process - suggest and direct where your further exploration could lead. Write a paragraph statement that explains what you have learnt from your research and describe the possible design directions you might take.
• Explain the synthesis you have made
• Link observational drawing with research
• Reference all content observing trademark, copyright and legal obligations.