Short answer
Designers should practice articulating the persuasive intent behind their design choices, understanding that a design proposal is a communication tool aimed at influencing stakeholders.
- Field
- User-Centred Design
- Source
- University of the Arts London Research Online (University of the Arts London) (2015)
- Method
- Qualitative analysis of recorded design critiques
- Sample
- 5 participants
- Evidence
- Moderate effect
Design instructors can effectively guide novice designers by encouraging them to view their design proposals not just as functional solutions, but as rhetorical instruments to communicate and advocate for their design choices. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2015 study published in University of the Arts London Research Online (University of the Arts London). Using Qualitative analysis of recorded design critiques with 5 participants, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Designers should practice articulating the persuasive intent behind their design choices, understanding that a design proposal is a communication tool aimed at influencing stakeholders.
Instructor feedback scaffolds novice designer development by framing design proposals as rhetorical tools.
Design instructors can effectively guide novice designers by encouraging them to view their design proposals not just as functional solutions, but as rhetorical instruments to communicate and advocate for their design choices.
University of the Arts London Research Online (University of the Arts London) · 2015
Key Findings
- 01Instructors adopt various roles (directing, guiding, encouraging) during critiques.
- 02Critiques help students develop personal design values and preferences.
- 03Framing design proposals as rhetorical instruments aids novice designers' thinking and presentation skills.
Application
Design takeaway
Designers should practice articulating the persuasive intent behind their design choices, understanding that a design proposal is a communication tool aimed at influencing stakeholders.
How to apply
When presenting design work, consider the audience and frame your design decisions as strategic choices that address specific needs or values, rather than just functional outcomes.
Project actions
- 01During reviews, try to explain not just what your design does, but why you made those specific choices.
- 02Consider how your design communicates a message or value to the user.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Provides a nuanced view of the instructor's role in design education.
- +Highlights the cognitive and communicative aspects of design development.
Limitations
The instructor's personal style and experience heavily influence the critique process, which might not be replicable in all teaching environments.
Reliability & validity
The qualitative nature of the study means findings are rich but may lack generalizability. Reliability could be improved with multiple coders analyzing the transcripts. Validity is supported by the in-depth analysis of real-world design critiques.
Think critically
To what extent does the instructor's role in framing design as rhetoric influence the student's genuine adoption of those values versus a performative adoption for the critique?
Design Principles
"Design proposals should be crafted with a clear rhetorical purpose, serving to communicate and advocate for specific design values and solutions."
This approach helps students develop a stronger sense of their own design values and sensibilities, moving beyond simply fulfilling a brief to understanding the persuasive power of design. It fosters a more critical and self-aware design practice.
What This Means for Your Design
When you show your design ideas, think about how you can convince others that your design is the best. Your instructor can help you learn how to do this better.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use this research to justify your approach to design reviews and how you developed your design rationale.
- 2.Discuss how feedback helped you refine the rhetorical impact of your design.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
The research by McDonnell (2015) highlights the importance of framing design proposals as rhetorical instruments. This perspective suggests that effective design communication involves not only presenting functional solutions but also articulating the underlying values and persuasive intent of design choices, which is crucial for developing a designer's own sensibilities and for gaining stakeholder buy-in.
Source
University of the Arts London Research Online (University of the Arts London)
Becoming a designer: Some contributions of design reviews
journal · 2015
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about instructor feedback scaffolds novice designer development by framing design proposals as rhetorical tools?
- Designers should practice articulating the persuasive intent behind their design choices, understanding that a design proposal is a communication tool aimed at influencing stakeholders. Evidence: University of the Arts London Research Online (University of the Arts London) (2015).
- Why does "Instructor feedback scaffolds novice designer development by framing design proposals as rhetorical tools." matter for design?
- This approach helps students develop a stronger sense of their own design values and sensibilities, moving beyond simply fulfilling a brief to understanding the persuasive power of design. It fosters a more critical and self-aware design practice.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Designers should practice articulating the persuasive intent behind their design choices, understanding that a design proposal is a communication tool aimed at influencing stakeholders.
- What were the main findings?
- Instructors adopt various roles (directing, guiding, encouraging) during critiques.. Critiques help students develop personal design values and preferences.. Framing design proposals as rhetorical instruments aids novice designers' thinking and presentation skills.
- What research method was used?
- Qualitative analysis of recorded design critiques with 5 participants.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2015 journal from University of the Arts London Research Online (University of the Arts London).
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When presenting design work, consider the audience and frame your design decisions as strategic choices that address specific needs or values, rather than just functional outcomes.
- What are the limitations?
- The study focused on a specific educational context and a small number of participants, potentially limiting the generalizability of findings to all design disciplines and professional settings.