Supervising Practice-Based Design Research: Business as (Un)usual? Work-in-Progress Part 1

Abstract

Practice-based design research encompasses scholarly inquiry wherein design activities and processes are integral to scholarly research and postgraduate studies. The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) also recognises such research activity as credit-bearing 'creative output', but report a lack of rigour, especially in the communication design field, where no such submissions in the previous review cycle could be awarded. This work-in-progress paper starts with a theoretical exploration of the nature, complexity and potential of practice-based design research, with a specific lens on communication design. Existing literature underscores a myriad of challenges inherent in this space, including the quest for a unified language and theoretical frameworks, the identification of suitable methodologies and research designs, and concerns regarding scholarly rigour, transferability, and trustworthiness of findings. Nonetheless, practice-based research in design provides researchers and postgraduate students the potential to be innovative and to abductively harness the possibilities of design and design thinking in the research space. Embracing and developing practice-based design research as an acceptable paradigm might also encourage more postgraduate enrolment and success since it builds on skill sets that are more familiar to designers, might better align with the knowledge needs of industry, and might, in the end, build capacity for this type of research output. This work-in-progress paper forms a theoretical background for a future study to shed light on South African supervisors and students' challenges in this space. By exploring these challenges, this research will contribute insights to the field, enriching our understanding of the dynamics within practice-based design research and providing guidance and support for those in supervisory roles within this domain.