A new research group has been recently formed to develop furniture design within Creative Arts and Design culture.
15 Aug 2013
New Research Group: FURNITURE OBJECTives
Furniture design is an intrinsic part of contemporary visual and material culture, grounded by a set of mature object typologies, haptic knowledge and one off & mass production. It engages with everyday life, both practically and philosophically. Its research related outputs include designs, artefacts, prototypes, patents, design briefs, presentation media, advisory reports, exhibitions, curatorship, books, articles, databases and the creation of specialist archival collections & databases to support research infrastructure.
Research is understood by the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) as an ‘original’ investigation undertaken in order to gain knowledge and understanding. It includes work of direct relevance to the needs of commerce, industry, and to the public and voluntary sectors; scholarship; the invention and generation of ideas, images, performances, artefacts including design, where these lead to new or substantially improved insights; and the use of existing knowledge in experimental development to produce new or substantially improved materials, devices, products and processes, including design and construction.’
Design research can be both quantitative and qualitative in its methodology. It is inherently interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary. Materials, structure, technologies, techniques, anthropometrics, human factors, sustainability, market, business, inclusivity, audience, consumption, health, well being, interaction, cultural identity are aspects of the creative design process.
The FURNITURE OBJECTives research group has formed to develop this culturally significant field of Creative Arts and Design research through common disciplinary interests and a collaborative approach. The members of the group are: - Dr Jyri Kermik, Patrick Letschka, Professor Maxine Naylor, Chris Rose, Stefano Santilli and Steven Smith.
The group’s combined research interests encompass visual research, cognitive practices, experimentation through materials, design practice, sustainable practices, cultural heritage, the pedagogy of design, visualization & representation of design, technologies & techniques, the design development & production of furniture in public, corporate, contract, religious, educational, residential and domestic contexts, creativity & innovation, creative expressive value, and the everyday. FURNITURE OBJECTives intends to develop a design-led collaboration, which recognises the contribution of the individual researcher to an investigation. The existing design work of each the group’s members provides a diverse cross section of approaches to furniture design that will inform its research. This cross section reflects the profile of the discipline and the professional community. The group is in the process of developing its first research project and funding proposal.
