A Designer's Research Manual: Succeed in Design by Knowing Your Clients and What They Really Need (Design Field Guides) (Hardcover)

by Jennifer Visocky O'Grady (Author), Kenneth Visocky O'Grady (Author)
Key Phrases: graphic design, design index, photo ethnography, Designer's Research Manual, Case Studies, Dara Creative (more...)

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Product Description

Doing research can make all the difference between a great design and a good design. Most experienced designers would quantify this "legwork" with the term research. By engaging in competitive intelligence, customer profiling, color and trend forecasting, etc., designers are able to bring something to the table that reflects a commercial value for the client beyond a well-crafted logo or brochure. Although scientific and analytical in nature, research is the basis of all good design work. This book provides a comprehensive manual for designers on what design research is, why it is necessary, how to do research, and how to apply it to design work. As designers embrace research methodologies, they share a common vernacular with their clients, and establish respect as idea people. In an increasingly crowded marketplace, embracing research practices will ensure a continued viable role for designers in business. No other books address this issue for student and professional graphic designers. Books on how to do research are usually aimed at writers, business marketers, and scientists. The ability to execute effective research methods is as important to a career in graphic design as the ability to build a grid or layout a page. Understanding the needs of the client and the client's market are essential components of creating value.

About the Author

Associate Professor Jennifer Visocky O'Grady is a graduate of the Kent State University Visual Communication Design program (B.S., & M.F.A.), and has been teaching at Cleveland State since the spring of 1999. She is also co-founder and principal of Enspace Inc.

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Product Details Hardcover: 192 pages Publisher: Rockport Publishers (October 1, 2006) Language: English ISBN-10: 1592532578 ISBN-13: 978-1592532575 Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.9 x 0.8 inches Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #490,524 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
graphic design, design index, photo ethnography, research tactic, formative research, user testing

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Designer's Research Manual, Case Studies, Dara Creative, Guitar Player, Studio Blue, Designing Framework, Practicing Research Driven Design, Design Council, World Trade Centers Association, Park Wood, Dublin Chamber, Ace Express Pallets, Tailoring Research Methodology, Doug Powell, Cook County, Financial Designs, Georgetown Law, East Coast, Sterling Brands, New York

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Customer Reviews

6 Reviews 5 star:  (4) 4 star:  (2) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 4.7 out of 5 stars (6 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 7 of 8 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars A great service to the design profession and it's clients, December 11, 2006 By  John Chen "DesignGeek" (NYC, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    In my search for structured discussion on design process and research, I was fortunate enough to find this book, "A Designer's Research Manual," at the MOMA bookstore in SoHo. I only wish this had been available and required text when I was still in school. The Authors have done a great service to the design profession, and it's clients. Those of us who are more designers than "artists" would do well to integrate the principles of this book into our processes & methodologies for tackling our clients' business problems. It's thinking like that in this book that will make the case for design's value to the business of our clients. Thank you Jenn & Ken Visocky O'Grady! 1 of 1 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars A much needed resource for the design community, November 27, 2007 By  Hilary Ashworth "RGD Ontario" (Toronto, ON) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    Graphic design is about much more than typography, composition and colour. Researching and understanding the client's needs and those of the target audience are key to the design process. This book is a valuable resource for designers seeking to understand the research strategies and methodologies appropriate for their work. Kudos to the authors and the professional community of contributors for this book specifically aimed at designers. A Designer's Research Manual conveys information in a clear and readable manner with concise text, helpful graphics and relevant international case studies. 5.0 out of 5 stars Research Simplified, June 17, 2009 By  Graphic Lunatic (Bangalore, India) - See all my reviews This review is from: A Designer's Research Manual: Succeed in Design by Knowing Your Clients and What They Really Need (Design Field Guide) (Paperback) This book presents the otherwise-boring-for-us-designers subject of research in an extremely readable format with effective use of charts and diagrams. It explains why research is important and goes on to explain the different methods of research, but not in such great detail as to make you doze off mid-sentence. The information is brief, to the point, and very well laid out. On the whole, a very good read. Almost half the book is dedicated to case studies that portray how research influenced the design direction (This, I particularly enjoyed).		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 4.0 out of 5 stars Good Reference Is a very good guide, more than a manual, about graphical design, with a complete reference for the students and profesionals. Published 5 months ago by Erjos Rolo 5.0 out of 5 stars Put this book in your tool belt. This book is a must have for any aspiring designer. I have the good fortune of studying under the author of "A DESIGNER'S RESEARCH MANUAL" Mr. Visocky O'Grady. Read more Published on March 8, 2007 by Freddy 4.0 out of 5 stars Clear, very straight foreward I had to buy this book for a Design Research class. I like the simplicity of the book and the information it contains. Read more Published on February 22, 2007 by E. Kelly Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Rockport Publishers (October 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592532578
• ISBN-13: 978-1592532575
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #490,524 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great service to the design profession and it's clients, December 11, 2006

By	John Chen "DesignGeek" (NYC, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

In my search for structured discussion on design process and research, I was fortunate enough to find this book, "A Designer's Research Manual," at the MOMA bookstore in SoHo. I only wish this had been available and required text when I was still in school. The Authors have done a great service to the design profession, and it's clients. Those of us who are more designers than "artists" would do well to integrate the principles of this book into our processes & methodologies for tackling our clients' business problems. It's thinking like that in this book that will make the case for design's value to the business of our clients. Thank you Jenn & Ken Visocky O'Grady!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A much needed resource for the design community, November 27, 2007

By	Hilary Ashworth "RGD Ontario" (Toronto, ON) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Graphic design is about much more than typography, composition and colour. Researching and understanding the client's needs and those of the target audience are key to the design process. This book is a valuable resource for designers seeking to understand the research strategies and methodologies appropriate for their work.

Kudos to the authors and the professional community of contributors for this book specifically aimed at designers. A Designer's Research Manual conveys information in a clear and readable manner with concise text, helpful graphics and relevant international case studies.

5.0 out of 5 stars Research Simplified, June 17, 2009

By	Graphic Lunatic (Bangalore, India) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Designer's Research Manual: Succeed in Design by Knowing Your Clients and What They Really Need (Design Field Guide) (Paperback)

This book presents the otherwise-boring-for-us-designers subject of research in an extremely readable format with effective use of charts and diagrams.

It explains why research is important and goes on to explain the different methods of research, but not in such great detail as to make you doze off mid-sentence. The information is brief, to the point, and very well laid out.

On the whole, a very good read. Almost half the book is dedicated to case studies that portray how research influenced the design direction (This, I particularly enjoyed).