Design Research & Designerly Ways of Knowing

We study design as both practice and a mode of inquiry. Situated within a design school, our work connects empirical studies of design activity with reflection on how design methods contribute to knowledge generation. We draw on experiences of designing with children and other participants while addressing broader questions in HCI and design research.

One strand investigates the role of large language model-based AI in UX design and creative work. Through empirical studies, we examine how designers use these tools and how collaboration and communication with AI unfold during design tasks. Our interest includes how AI participates in the design process and what those interactions reveal about design practice. A second strand examines participatory design and co-design, including their conceptual foundations, defining features, and use in HCI. We combine analyses of research practice with methodological reflection to clarify how participation is framed and how design activities contribute to research. Across these strands, we seek to help researchers describe their methods, explain the role of design, and communicate their contributions more precisely.