交叉学科背景下设计研究及其知识生产的优化策略

An optimization strategy of design research and knowledge production under the interdisciplinary background

数智时代的学科建设、知识涌现与复杂情境,对设计的理论和实践产生了诸多挑战,然而,既有的知识论与知识模型却还存在许多不确定性和理解偏差。文章采用文献分析、概念推演和范畴演绎的方法,对知识的概念、知识生产的困境和策略进行了分析。设计知识论辩的历史重构表明,设计知识及其生产还有待进一步讨论,理论和实践的分离也导致了不同程度的困境。文章提出了一种“混合设计的研究”的优化策略,主张把设计和研究放置在平等的位置上加以考虑,并将研究与创作、理论与实验以多媒介的形式“封装”起来。

Discipline construction,knowledge emergence and complex situations in the digital era have brought many challenges to the theory and practice of design,including how to master more challenging and disruptive technologies than in the past,and how to use system thinking to cope with sustainable and digital transformation.However,there are still many uncertainties and understanding deviations in the existing epistemology and knowledge models.As the basis for the construction of design practice and design theory,such issues as what is the knowledge scope of design research,in what sense should design research engage in knowledge production,and how the knowledge form produced is accepted by the current scientific system need further discussion.This article aimed to analyze the knowledge understanding of different positions,including empiricism,rationalism,criticism,constructivism,etc.,through the methods of literature analysis and conceptual deduction,so as to clarify the basic concepts and type characteristics of design knowledge.Secondly,combined with the disciplinary challenges faced by current design research,the development problems of theory and practice in existing design research were analyzed.Finally,according to the type characteristics of design knowledge and the development problems of design research,corresponding strategies were proposed to provide new theoretical references for design research and its knowledge production in the context of interdisciplinary studies,so as to optimize the development of design research.Design has an inherent interdisciplinary attribute.Almost all design activities are in a certain interdisciplinary relationship from the beginning.Products or services that have an impact on human life are created by gathering and integrating knowledge from other disciplines.It is necessary to discuss design research in the context of interdisciplinary studies.The historical reconstruction of the debate on design knowledge shows that design is“a collection of knowledge of material culture,experience,planning,invention,manufacturing and artistic understanding”,which is different from the scientific collection based on observation,measurement,hypothesis and testing and the humanistic collection based on contemplation,criticism,evaluation and discourse interpretation.It is“the third Rs”outside the two knowledge fields of science and humanities.The field specificity of the design discipline also shows that design knowledge is a type of knowledge with a mixed nature,including experience,information,memory,skills and other contents,which is different from the traditional binary understanding of theoretical knowledge and practical knowledge.However,in design research,research and design are often regarded as two concepts.Whether it is“research for design”,“research into design”or“research through design”,the theory and practice of design are not regarded as a holistic knowledge.The purpose of design research tends to be single-minded towards theory or practice,and even design is just a tool to be applied.Research and design are regarded to have a relationship of inclusion and being included.This has led to the knowledge goals and paradigms of design research lagging behind the challenges of intervening in complex situations,and being unable to adapt to the current development needs of knowledge and knowledge production.Some designers and researchers have begun to seek refuge in various“fashionable”social science and natural science theories,and have lost confidence in driving other disciplines in interdisciplinary collaboration.In the face of this problem,this article proposes a strategy“integrating research with design”,advocating that design and research be considered on an equal footing to optimize the knowledge production of design research.On the one hand,in the process of knowledge production,“making”is used as the basis of research to connect the knowledge production in design research.It is necessary to consider“making”itself as a kind of knowledge,and establish the connection between technical research,cultural ethics,social responsibility and innovation through this kind of manufacturing knowledge action,so that design and research can be constructed into a continuous knowledge whole in action;on the other hand,in the form of knowledge production,it is advocated to map various emotions,experiences,actions,aesthetics and other heterogeneous knowledge into carriers such as text,language,images and audio through multi-media forms,such as video papers,sensory ethnography,and design artifacts,“encapsulate”research and creation,theory and experiment,realize the unity of theory and practice,and let the knowledge of design research be spread and shared in a wider scientific system,so as to promote the development of design research.This article proposes the strategy of“integrating research with design”,advocates treating practice and research equally,and breaks the traditional dual epistemology of design practice and theoretical research.Starting from design itself,design research and its actions are regarded as a knowledge whole.At the same time,it emphasizes connecting heterogeneous knowledge with different media,breaking through the boundaries of knowledge,and turning research into a meaningful and valuable practice.Although specific paths and practices need to be further clarified,this mixed-type strategy of design research is being widely discussed and gradually accepted,and may form a new tradition in the future.