Design Research & Dissertation // Draft Dissertation

DESIGN RESEARCH & DISSERTATION // DRAFT DISSERTATION

Ibrahim Fazal Ahmad / 0337423

Information Design / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media / Taylors University 

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INSTRUCTIONS 

We need to complete a dissertation based on the methodology we had conducted in our prerequisite class of Design Research & Methodology. Here are the requirements: 

• Acknowledgements
•  Abstract
•  Table of Contents page
•  Introduction to the dissertation
• Problem statement
• Research objective
• Research question
•  Literature review
•  Research methodology
•  Results/ Findings
•  Analysis and discussion
•  Conclusion
•  Project Recommendation / Future Research
•  Reference list
•  Picture credit list 
• Appendices (sample interview questions and questionnaire questions)

Week 2 Lecture 

We also had to complete a literature matrix for the five papers that we had done critical reviews on in the previous semester.

Literature Matrix:

Week 3 Lecture 

Week 4 Lecture 

Week 5 Lecture 

Week 6 Lecture 

Draft Dissertation

Final Dissertation

REFLECTION

Experience: Overall this has been a tough experience for sure. I doubt anyone goes into a design course expecting to write an entire dissertation. But as someone with a slight background in writing, barely. I did actually enjoy this subject. It was definitely gruelling, hard to keep up with, and even exhausting at times. But luckily my pure enjoyment from just, writing, made this subject so much easier. I've learned a lot through this subject about design, and how to go about my work outside of this. 

Observation: I'm sure many people will find this subject tiring and hard. Including me, it was not easy keeping up with this with four other taxing modules. But I do really believe this subject is useful to us as designers. If it weren't for the amount of research I had to conduct in the requisite class, I wouldn't have been as versed in it for when I needed it. The skills from these classes proved useful in all my classes, especially Character Design! 

Findings: Some topics are just meant to remain debated over, there isn't a right or a wrong. Some things are just meant to remain nuanced and up for debate at times. The topic I chose was one of those surely. There are definite wrongs in my topic (Racial Stereotyping in Character Design). But once things start becoming less and less obvious in terms of how problematic they are, it becomes harder to define. To some it may be an issue and to some it may not.