A Designer's Research Manual ─ Succeed in Design by Knowing Your Clients and What They Really Need

Doing research can make all the difference between a great design and a good design. By engaging in competitive intelligence, customer profiling, color and trend forecasting, etc., designers are able to bring something to the table that reflects a commercial value for the client beyond a well-crafted logo or brochure. Although scientific and analytical in nature, research is the basis of all good design work. This book provides a comprehensive manual for designers on what design research is, why it is necessary, how to do research, and how to apply it to design work.

Associate Professor Jenn Visocky O'Grady is a graduate of the Kent State University Visual Communication Design program (B.S., & M.F.A.), and has been teaching at Cleveland State since the spring of 1999. She is also co-founder and principal of Enspace Inc. Ken Visocky O'Grady is an Assistant Professor of Visual Communication Design. He holds his BS/MFA from Kent State University. In addition to his teaching duties, Ken is a Principal at the Enspace Creative Group, a company that he co-founded in 1998 with his wife Jennifer.