Defining Design Research

This paper examines design research in architecture and its intersection with academic library research support and services in North America. Design research is a term used in both library and architecture literature, but a single definition for this work is challenging to identify, particularly when investigating how design research differs from other research methodologies and how libraries can support students pursuing work in this area. Surveying their peers, the authors investigated how architecture librarians and archivists are supporting design research at their academic institutions. The survey results revealed a shared understanding among practitioners of design research but not a clear definition or research support model.