Residencies with Resonance: A case for pragmatism in design-led concept development
type: CreativeWork
description: This thesis unites the relevant philosophical foundations of design and pragmatism in order to co-design a new model of provision for design residencies in the museum. To achieve this, it considers the transformations in design that have been the focus of much academic debate in recent years. In an attempt to move this vision forward, this study employs the concept development of a design residency as a lens through which the traditional and emerging frameworks of design can be viewed to foster a discussion on the agency of design within a cultural organisation. This investigation uses an inquiry paradigm defined by pragmatist John Dewey to shape this design research endeavour. Dewey’s pragmatism can be understood as an embodiment of inquiry: the objective is not to define the properties of reality, but to understand that inquiry is an active and participatory approach, with the purpose of gaining understanding of an experience that can be applied to current and future contexts. As a result, this thesis employs Case Study methodology in order to examine the concept development phase of innovation delivered by design research. This in-depth study examines the role of design research in developing a new model for residencies and investigating the potential opportunities offered by a future design residency to those stakeholders most affected by it. Various methods have been developed using Dewey’s pragmatism, including experience as method, community of inquiry and visual research methods. In addition, the principles of design, specifically that of co-design, have also assisted in bringing the philosophy of pragmatism into the design space. Through this epistemology, this research explores the current practices of residencies in the creative and cultural industries in order to examine what is in existence while proposing a future conceptualisation of provision. Initially, a contextual review of the limited literature paired with an overview of the existing residency p…
abstract: This thesis unites the relevant philosophical foundations of design and pragmatism in order to co-design a new model of provision for design residencies in the museum. To achieve this, it considers the transformations in design that have been the focus of much academic debate in recent years. In an attempt to move this vision forward, this study employs the concept development of a design residency as a lens through which the traditional and emerging frameworks of design can be viewed to foster a discussion on the agency of design within a cultural organisation. This investigation uses an inquiry paradigm defined by pragmatist John Dewey to shape this design research endeavour. Dewey’s pragmatism can be understood as an embodiment of inquiry: the objective is not to define the properties of reality, but to understand that inquiry is an active and participatory approach, with the purpose of gaining understanding of an experience that can be applied to current and future contexts. As a result, this thesis employs Case Study methodology in order to examine the concept development phase of innovation delivered by design research. This in-depth study examines the role of design research in developing a new model for residencies and investigating the potential opportunities offered by a future design residency to those stakeholders most affected by it. Various methods have been developed using Dewey’s pragmatism, including experience as method, community of inquiry and visual research methods. In addition, the principles of design, specifically that of co-design, have also assisted in bringing the philosophy of pragmatism into the design space. Through this epistemology, this research explores the current practices of residencies in the creative and cultural industries in order to examine what is in existence while proposing a future conceptualisation of provision. Initially, a contextual review of the limited literature paired with an overview of the existing residency p…
author: Coulson, Saskia
language: eng
keywords: Residencies, Concept development, Design research, Creative and cultural industries, Co-design, Pragmatism, Design, residency, Dewey, V&A Dundee, Design Museum, case study
date published: 2016
date modified: 2026-07-24T02:08:19Z
provider: University of Dundee
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Dundee