While reviewing research methodologies, I found a step-by-step design research process within Ian Noble and Russell Bestley’s Visual Research: An Introduction to Research Methodologies in Graphic Design.

The process is:

1. Define the design problem.
2. Ask whether the problem is significant and whether visual communication can contribute to reducing it.
3. Define the causes of the problem.
4. Define the target audience.
5. Begin divergent research.
6. Visually research the target audience.
7. Gather quantitative data.
8. Gather qualitative data.
9. Refine the design problem.
10. Agree design objectives.
11. Identify channels of distribution.
12. Ask whether those channels are affordable and effective ways of reaching the audience.
13. Design prototype graphics.
14. Test them with members of the target audience.
15. Evaluate whether the graphics are appropriate.
16. Test within a small-scale environment.
17. Re-evaluate the design objectives.
18. Ask whether the test was successful.
19. Roll out at full scale.
20. Measure effectiveness.
21. Recommend improvements.

Could I Use This to Structure My Research Project?

I think it would be nnice to try and recreate these 21 stages of research process. Although my project is exploratory, meaning I may move backwards and forwards between research, so i may not be able to work linear. However, the overall structure closely reflects what I am already beginning to do.

At the moment I am particularly working within the earlier stages:

Define the problem → understand its causes → understand the audience → conduct divergent research → collect qualitative and quantitative evidence.

Later, my primary research could inform the design objectives before I begin experimenting with outcomes such as interactive environments, projection, physical experiences or digital technology. The part I find most valuable is that prototyping does not happen until after the audience and problem have been researched. This gives me a useful structure for preventing myself from jumping too quickly towards a final solution.