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Design is different today because the world is changing faster than ever, making design research the key to delivering innovative, experience enhancing projects.
In his books, Outliers and The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell uses data, trend analysis and research to uncover unseen drivers behind everyday phenomenon. Gladwell has a talent for asking (and answering) why the "next big thing" always seems to emerge from nowhere. It's amazing to read the connections and unexpected back stories illuminated through his research and data analytics. But the more significant message that comes through his profoundly impactful stories is that, in order to understand what is really going on, you need to get below the surface through research.
This knowledge is at the core of Gensler's commitment to design research. We believe that to create design that delivers impact and experience to create a better world, we must go below the surface and bring research and unseen insight to the design process. To truly meet the needs and challenges of today, knowledge and observation are no longer enough—and the solutions that have worked in the past may not work in the future.
For decades, design and architecture have been industries largely based in precedent. In fact, the term "archetype" means preconceived models and predictable patterns and designs. This notion has fostered the basis of much of architectural design and how we teach the history and theory of architecture to students. There are literally hundreds of books written about architectural archetypes. Books like A Pattern Language, by Christopher Alexander, Precedents in Architecture by Roger H. Clark and Michael Pause and the myriad of books on classifications, standards, patterns and stylistic rules are widely read and internalized across the field.
Without question, these books and ideas are excellent when brought to bear in a static environment. But just as the theories of Isaac Newton work on earth where the laws of physics don't change but are useless in space where variables are constantly changing, archetypes and precedents don't take into consideration the new and changing variables that need to inform design in a dramatically changing world.
At Gensler, we are challenging the notion of the archetype. We believe that every design should be informed by research. Research that explores the deeper issues and questions at the core of each project. Research that challenges the assumptions and unearths the trends and megatrends that form the broader context we are operating in and can also help resolve the issues of the project at hand.
Just as Malcolm Gladwell's books challenge us to go beyond the assumed, design research challenges us to go beyond the archetype and the conventional approaches to find new and innovative design for today.
Our World Is ChangingThe convergence of changing technology, demographics, urbanization, climate change and economy volatility mean design is anything but business as usual. Our research is helping drive our design solutions to create impactful and innovative design solutions in this time of great change. As how we work, shop, learn, travel and connect continue to undergo dramatic shifts, our research is helping us uncover insights that inspire design innovation, and they often run contrary to common perception:
To reach a possibly neglected, but affluent demographic like the rising number of middle class Chinese men with disposable income, retailers should consider new retail design solutions that actively engage and create a connection with men.
Learn more about this topic by reading “Consumer Multiplicity in China.”
Learn more about this topic by reading “Libraries are for Studying.”
Surprisingly, it was knowledge workers in Asia that reported the most choice out of all of our 2016 Workplace Survey respondents, with greater autonomy than knowledge workers in both the U.S. and the U.K. What makes this finding notable is the more common belief that the Western workplace is more supportive of individualistic, free thinking and autonomous behavior than the Asian workplace, which is often thought to be governed by collective sensibilities and a deep sense of personal/social discipline. Yet, even though we found that Asian workplace design tends to duplicate popular design trends in the U.S. and Europe, Asian knowledge workers appear to be using their office spaces much more freely than their Western counterparts.
Learn more about this topic by reading Gensler’s 2016 Workplace Surveys.
It turns out that people still want to enjoy their airport experience, they just want airports themselves to keep up with the times. Digitized security check-points, integration with the community and terminal parks and/or green spaces are some of the features that travelers want most in today’s airports, which need to align themselves better with 21st century norms and expectations. What people want is an airport ‘non-process,’ which gives them more control over their ticketing, security and customs experience, leaving them more time to work, eat and shop in the airport.
Learn more about this topic by reading “Airports without Waiting?”
Many Boomers are deciding to stay active as they enter retirement age, choosing to leave the suburban communities they raised their families in and embrace the newly walkable neighborhoods springing up in energetic urban centers. Designing new urban development for seniors attracted to the idea of active aging is a great way to stay relevant for a demographic that still accounts for 50 percent of consumer spending, nationally. It also means that designing solutions for every part of the urban fabric includes providing a richer urban experience designed for diverse communities of young and old urban dwellers.
Learn more about this topic by reading “Design for Active Aging.”
Gensler’s research program is a cornerstone of our firm’s design philosophy and our commitment to making a difference through our work. We recognize that as designers, our legacy comes from the people our work impacts on a daily basis, and whatever we leave behind should be dedicated to delivering positive outcomes instead of representing design for design’s sake. Our research program enables this through uncovering important and unexpected insights and discoveries that often cut against common misconceptions and challenge conventional wisdom.
We are also committed to publishing and sharing our research to extend its impact and generate open discussions about findings and implications. These insights represent just a few of the many research projects profiled in the new Gensler Research Catalogue, Volume 2. Our new catalogue celebrates 41 diverse topics focused on leveraging the power of design to positively impact people, organizations, the environment, and communities. And it’s also a commitment to the graphic and information design talent of our teams across the world—over 25 graphic designers, along with the hundreds of research team members, participated in the publication of the Catalogue. Take a look at gensler.com/research to learn more about the research and Catalogue, and stay tuned as we continue these discussions.
Diane Hoskins is one of two Gensler Co-CEOs. She is focused on Gensler’s global talent strategies, performance and organizational development to ensure that we serve our clients with the world’s top talent. The catalyst for Gensler’s Research program, Diane is committed to delivering value to clients through strategies and innovations like Gensler’s Workplace Performance Index® (WPI). Contact her at diane_hoskins@gensler.com. |