Wyrwane z kontekstu – Act First, Do the Research Later

W sierpniowym numerze Core77, Don Norman, autor m.in. kultowego Design of Everyday Things, współzałożyciel Norman Nielsen Group opublikował esej, który ma szansę stać się w przyszłości (niestety) jednym z najbardziej popularnych uzsadanień/wymówek do niewykonywania badań przed etapem projektowania:

Here are five very different arguments to support the practical reality of starting by designing, not through design research. First, the existence of good design that was not preceded by research. Second, the argument that experienced designers already have acquired the knowledge that would come from research. Third, the research effort of a company ought to be continually ongoing, so that results are available instantly. Fourth, and most controversial, research might inhibit creativity. And fifth, when the product is launched and the team assembled, it is already too late.
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When I was a professor of cognitive science, I learned that reading and becoming expert at the existing research literature created a delicate tradeoff. Too much knowledge could be harmful. The point of my students’ PhD dissertations (and of all my own research) is to make a significant advance in the understanding of a topic. Read too much of the existing literature about what previous researchers have thought and done and you will follow in their footsteps. This means that you will also encounter the same dead ends. Without knowing the literature, you can be creative and often discover valuable new insights and directions.

Źródło: Act First, Do the Research Later, Don Norman, Core77