Christopher Frayling, “Research in Art and Design”

1. In our society, art and science are usually known to be opposites. Even our own brains are separated between the two with the left half leaning towards science and the right half leaning towards art. Despite the two having different outcomes, to prepare for both, one has to research. So, why does the term “research” usually apply more to science? No one usually thinks art has something to research. Is it related to what Picasso said?

2. John A. Walker wrote, “the idea that art might be a construction…rather than an expression or that it might be the consequence of a host of social factors is alien to the ethos of Hollywood.” However, many people have been learning about art in universities or even going art schools for years and having careers after based on their education. So, could that be considered “alien” in an industry of which probably a good amount of their people has done their own art research?

3. Throughout this article, there has been two terms to describe people who research for innovative purposes. For the first half, the term science was used. However, then for the second half, design was used instead. Was there some reason behind this? Are they trying to say that they are in the same category when design isn’t just for scientific purposes, but artistic ones as well?

David Salomon, “Experimental Cultures: On the ‘End’ of the Design Thesis and the Rise of the Research Studio”

1. In a research studio, a topic or project is already decided. This doesn’t give a lot of options for a student to research something that is important to them. Isn’t more essential for students to choose their own research as they would in a thesis, so they would be more motivated then being told of what they have to do in a research studio?

2. Having different experiences is good for students in general. It teaches us variety and how to be flexible since we don’t know what kind of job experience we will receive outside in the real world. So, isn’t it better to require a thesis where the process is completely different from a normal studio than have us do a research studio where the process is more or less the same?

3. One of the references that were called upon many times was the Boyer Report. It stated that “All graduates should be required to pull together, in a single piece of design work, what they have learned in the professional degree program and express their design concepts clearly—orally, in writing and in two- and three-dimensional representations.” If the need for research is so great, then why keep referencing this when it de-emphasizes research?