Three challenges in practising Research Through Design in the context of PhD design research

Research through Design (RtD) is a maturing research methodology in Design and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), in which design actions are used as a means to conduct research. This way of doing research holds promise for creating transdisci- plinary results but it comes with challenges. Research and design are similar in that both aim to create something new. However, depending on a project’s context, there may be different expectations about what that something new is, spanning from gen- eralized knowledge to localized solutions. In this paper we discuss two PhD projects in the healthcare sector and reflect on three challenges encountered by the PhD re- searchers: (1) navigating the dual aim of designing interventions and generating aca- demic knowledge, (2) balancing the creation of prototypes as products for use and objects of inquiry, and (3) effectively collaborating with stakeholders in complex and sensitive settings.