About Designing: Analysing Design Meetings

Chapters in this book are contributed by senior figures from the field of design studies/design thinking, reporting a landmark study which follows the heavily cited preceding landmark work 'Analysing Design Activity' (1996) by Cross et al.

This piece has also been published in a refereed journal: 'CoDesign', 5(1), ISSN 15710882, DOI 10.1080/15710880802492862

Janet McDonnell

Current research

Studying design and other kinds of professional work as it takes place in natural settings where many competing practical pressures are at play. The focus of research is on different means of making practices 'visible' e.g. the methods in use, the decision-making behaviour, how ideas get introduced and established, the informational bases (sources, uses and quality) that individuals and groups rely on, and the influences of assumptions and norms. The overarching themes uniting different projects are an interest in supporting reflective practice, increasing the potential for individuals and groups to learn from experience, enabling user engagement in design, communication of expertise, and understanding the social interactional aspects of collaborative activity.
I am editor-in-chief of the journal CoDesign and a member of the AHRC peer review college. I also review research proposals for the EPSRC and have served as a panel member for the TSB.