An attempt to define industrial design research through a comparative design-based disciplines framework

There has been, and continues to be, much confusion about what represents research, or addition to knowledge, in non-technical design-based disciplines in general, and industrial design in particular. This is mainly the result of a lack of a widely agreed and recognized definitions’ framework of these types of disciplines and their research methods and outcomes. This paper will begin by attempting to define: Design, design-based disciplines, and industrial design in particular; then it will carry on defining and comparing their specific and currently used research methods and outcomes (supported by examples of past research projects), in order to illustrate their differences in relation to industrial design research. Finally, all this information will be synthesised in a generic definitions’ framework of similar design-based disciplines. The final aim of this framework will be to be used as a reference for academics (researchers/educators) and professionals (design practitioners) in industrial design, in order to help them to differentiate between similar design-based disciplines and their research methods and outcomes, for academic (evaluation) and professional (designers’ roles) purposes.