Outlining a context for design research

Design curricula are still in progress and new perspectives are being developed on the form and nature of academic design research. This contribution proposes a reflection on some critical issues stemming from the progressive shift from searching in design to learning how to make research in design. To guide and develop this vision some elements are derived from the design research experiences carried on within the Ph.D. programme in industrial design at Politecnico di Milano. Key points of the contribution are design as a young field of inquiry, nature of design research, fields of design research, design “search” and design “research”, research “through design” as foundation.