DDR4 : Designing Design Research Conference: 20 March 2004

MESSAGE FROM THE RECTOR (RCA), SIR CHRISTOPHER FRAYLING

(As read by Peter Town, Chair of the Royal College of Art Society)

The ‘R’ word is on everyone’s lips these days. And yet – apart from Misha Black’s DRU and Bruce Archer’s Systematic Design Methods – no-one even mentioned the word ‘research’ at the College as recently as fifteen years ago. Then again, the RCA Charter of 1967 does say that the means by which we deliver our mission are through “teaching, research and collaboration with industry and commerce”. So maybe it isn’t so recent after all; just the word ‘research’, with its connotations of white lab coats and definitive conclusions. Some key issues need clarifying. They include:

  • the distinction between ‘research’ and ‘the gathering of reference materials’ (we all do that)

  • the distinction between ‘research’ and ‘advanced practice’

  • the distinction between research into art and design (the ‘academics’ you mention), research through art and design and art and design as research. I’ve been flying the flag for the latter two for ten years now, and we are getting somewhere with them now

    The point is that ‘research’ need not mean ‘academic research’ or ‘scientific research’. It simply means an enquiry whose goal is new and communicable knowledge – and, of course, there’s a key role for creativity in that process.

    I hope the debate goes well. It is timely and important.


    Back to DDR4 Question session.