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The Integrated Conglomerate Approach: a suggestion for a generic model of design research

In this essay the ‘Integrated Conglomerate Method’ is brought forward as a generic model for designresearch.

Integrated: integrated in practical activities, spiral from tacit to explicit to tacit. Learning through doing. Exploration through practice. Practical work fuelled by theory. Theory derived form practical investigations.

Conglomerate: means to apply the adequate method to the theme or the part problem at hand.

Triangulation of conglomerate findings from scientific and practical investigations is the glue that relates the partial explorations to each other and gives the research generic value.

Sevaldson, B. 2000. 'The Integrated Conglomerate Approach: a suggestion for a generic model of design research'. In D. Durling & K. Friedman (Eds.), Proceedings of the conference Doctoral Education in Design: Foundations for the Future. Stoke-on-Trent: 08.07.2000–12.07.2000. 163–170. Available: http://www.birger-sevaldson.no/phd/ica.pdf