Dynamic Research Sketching: A new explanatory tool for understanding theory construction in design research

In this paper we offer a new explanatory tool, called ‘dynamic research sketching’ usefulfor mapping and understanding how research through design can be a vehicle for theoryconstruction. ‘Research through design’ is often used as an all-inclusive umbrella term forresearch practices that recognize the process of designing and making an artifact as alegitimate method of inquiry. However, even though this type of research is thus groundedin design practice there are many different ways in which the process of designing andmaking an artifact can be used as a method of inquiry in order to explore a researchquestion. Occasionally, the lack of a systematic methodology for research through designbeing able to make clarifications and distinctions between various methods has beenpointed out. Yet, only few attempts have been made to compensate for this lack. In thispaper, the aim is to make a first step toward such a methodology. Initially, we set the sceneby providing a critical examination of existing literature on the subject. Then, wedemonstrate the explanatory strength of dynamic research sketching by applying it to threecase examples. In so doing, we uncover three different methods for using design practice asa vehicle for theory construction. Finally, we discuss and conclude on our findings byholding them up against our critique of existing frameworks.