Design Research Methodology - Proposal

13/04/20 - 11/05/20 (Week 1 - Week 5)
Atiqah Farzana Binti Syalleh Karimyee (0336740)
Design Research Methodology
Proposal

---

LECTURE NOTES

Week 1 (13/04/20)

Due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, this semester had to be pushed for two weeks. In addition to that, all classes will be online to prevent the spread of the virus.

We had our first online class today which was held on Microsoft Teams with Dr. Noorhayati and Dr. Jinchi.

They gave a rundown of the Module Information Booklet and what we should be expecting in this module. The lecture was about the introduction to research, and how to come up with a research problem. Here are the notes provided:

Fig. 1.1 Week 1: Lecture Slides

Fig. 1.2 Week 1: Lecture Slides 2

We first had to confirm our specializations (graphic design, animation and visual effects, new media or entertainment design) now as it will be our topic for our final research report.

The lecturers said that this module is essentially one big project, but separated into four smaller assignments. For now we have to start brainstorming and researching topics for our research problem.


Week 2 (20/04/20)

This week we learnt how to write a problem statement, research questions and research objectives.

Fig. 1.3 Week 2: Lecture Slides

Fig. 1.4 Week 2: Lecture Slides 2

Fig. 1.5 Week 2: Lecture Slides 3

Fig. 1.6 Week 2: Lecture Slides 4

Week 3 (27/04/20)

Today we learnt more about formulating our research question and research objectives through the inductive or deductive approach. 

Fig. 1.7 Week 3: Lecture Slides 

Fig. 1.8 Week 3: Lecture Slides 2

Week 4 (04/05/20)

As next week's class will fall on a public holiday, Ms. Jinchi gave the lecture today instead. We learnt how to write a critical review. We also had an online research workshop at TIMes from 1-3PM which would teach us how to find relevant articles for our critical reviews.

  

Fig. 1.9 Week 4: Lecture Slides 1

Fig. 1.10 Week 4: Lecture Slides 2

Fig. 1.11 Week 4: Lecture Slides 3

Week 5 (11/05/20)

There was no class today as it was a public holiday (Nuzul Al-Quran).

---

INSTRUCTIONS

Module Information Booklet:

   

---

EXERCISE

Week 2 (20/04/20)

Today we had to present our research problems for our proposal to Ms. Jinchi. I had three choices which I am very interested in:

1. The impact of bad graphic design on Malaysian media
2. The fine line between inspiration and plagiarism in graphic design
3. The government's media content lack the appropriate design needed to increase public engagement

Feedback:

1. The impact of bad graphic design on Malaysian media

Ms. Jinchi said that this was sounding like a hypothesis in the sense that I stated that bad graphic design exists and it's affecting the Malaysian media. She suggested that I pick a scenario or example of poor graphic design and show how it has affected such media. Along with that, I should bring in successful ones too to show what graphic design had done well/ can do better.

      2. The fine line between inspiration and plagiarism in graphic design

Ms. Jinchi said this topic very interesting but needed deep research. She mentioned that it reminded her of the Dada period in which artist Marcel Duchamp took a toilet urinal and signed it as his own. A lot of controversy arose from this as the toilet was never his in the first place, but he claimed it to be. The question of "where/ when can we say that something is borrowed or original?". Out of my 3 research problems, Ms. Jinchi like this one the most.

      3. The government's media content lack the appropriate design needed to increase public engagement

This one also sounds like a hypothesis. Examples such as income tax, kementrain kesihatan webpage, most government/ ministry websites can be brought up. Ms. Jinchi said that research problem might be helpful to show Malaysians where we lack in the graphic design aspects for government media. She said I could also show successful examples of other countries, not only webpages but also infographs and social design.

Week 3 (27/04/20)

I initially chose the last research problem which is "the government's media content lacks the appropriate design needed to increase public engagement". This is the first draft:

Fig. 1.12 Proposal - First Attempt

After rethinking it, I finalised on doing my 2nd research problem instead- "the fine line between plagiarism and inspiration in graphic design". Here is the first draft:

Fig. 1.13 Proposal - Second Attempt

Feedback:

Ms. Jinchi said I focused too much on art history and not enough on graphic design. I mistakingly thought I could use the Marcel Duchamp example she mentioned in the previous week, but it was too art-centered. Thus, I have to redo my 2nd paragraph. Other than that, she said I have to read and reference my statements from articles, not websites. They also have to be in APA style. Ms. Jinchi also helped me make adjustments to my research questions and objectives. She also suggested that I can get data for my research questions by interviewing designers and also observations.

Week 4 (04/05/20)

Fig. 1.14 Proposal - Third Attempt

Feedback:

Overall, my work was fine but Ms. Jinchi helped me review and rephrase a bit of it. Last week, I focused too much on the art movements and not enough on graphic design, and Ms. Jinchi said it looks much better now. I also added the images of the Tokyo Olympics 2020 as well as the newspaper articles after my 2nd paragraph. She advised me to go through my work again because sometimes you could find mistakes or could rework something that you didn't notice at first.

Fig. 1.15 Proposal - Fourth Attempt

Feedback:

(from Google Classroom)

Hi Atiqah, below is my feedback to your proposal:

• Research Theme: Design Principles may be more suitable as the research theme as you aim to discuss an issue surrounding ethics in design.
• Research Topic, Research Problem: Related
• Problem Statement: Start Paul Wallen's case in a new paragraph. Amend the sentence "...his fair share of plagiarism..." because it indicates that he is the one who plagiarised, when it is his work that was plagiarised. Also state which year was his work shows/designed. Overall the problem statement is quite well-written, supported by research. there is much clarity, organisation of points and flow.
• Citations: Relevant and found where necessary.
• Research Objectives (ROs) & Research Questions (RQs): Relevant to the research problem and matching to each other.
• References: Need to read research articles and more recent ones from the last 5 years, not website articles

After altering my proposal to the given feedback, here is my final proposal:

Fig. 1.16 Proposal - Final Attempt