Discrete Observation as a Method of Identifying Real Design Needs

Consumer observation is widely recognised in the design industry as being a sensible ‘starting point for every design’ project [1]. In acknowledgement of this and the need to encourage the first year undergraduates to ‘think more’, the first semester Design Practice module in the Department of Design and Technology at Loughborough University was restructured to include a five week project which would make use of these techniques. The resultant project ‘Looking through the eyes of the designer’ is discussed in this paper. Initially this paper reflects on the need to gain permission from the Ethical Advisory Committee at the University to carry out this work. It then goes on to describe the process that the students went through over the five week period and the inputs that were provided in terms of lectures, short studio based inputs and formative and summative feedback. The paper concludes by reflecting on the successes of the project and on where it could be improved in the future.