Learning opportunities and outcomes of design research in the digital age

Computer and Internet technology has spread all over the world. As design research is a fast-growing discipline, it is worthwhile to examine its relationship with technology. Subsequently, this chapter aims to discuss the influence of computers and the Internet on design and design research in the digital age. Two kinds of design research, designerly and scholarly research, are defined. The influence of technology on them is examined. The chapter also finds that digitalization, computer software and hardware and Internet technology have facilitated the development of design research. They have created more learning opportunities and resulting in better learning outcomes in the field. However, despite these positive results, there are some drawbacks. These technologies may also limit some learning outcomes and pose risks to the development of design research.