Expanded edition of the much-loved step-by-step guide for artists and designers undertaking a research project. Now with new sections on visual research and data analysis.

The essential step-by-step guide for artists and designers undertaking research, now with new sections on visual research and data analysis.

Academic research in practical design and the creative industries can seem daunting. In this updated edition of Creative Research, Hilary Collins walks you through the process of creating a great research project from both practice-based and theoretical perspectives.

The perfect companion for researchers or students within the creative industries, this easy-to-follow guide covers:
- Choosing a topic
- Deciding your approach
- Using previous research and writing a literature review
- Obtaining your own data and using it appropriately
- Best practice, through examples and case studies

This edition also includes new sections on speculative design, design thinking and iterative fieldwork, as well as expanded coverage of data analysis vs data synthesis, using analytics data, usability testing, developing visual research and sense-making and discourse analysis.

With advice on everything from time management and project structuring to ethnography and ethics, as well as helpful diagrams, case studies and summaries throughout, Collins marries theory and practice from start to finish to help you confidently embark on your creative research project.

"

This well-written book provides a ‘visual picture’ of what creative enquiry looks like, helping my students understand the relationships between research and critical thinking, in context with their creative thinking.

"The most insightful book I’ve seen on the topic of research in the creative industry. It clearly explains the theory and practice of creative research and is a must-read for every designer, design researcher or student in this area." - Qian Sun, Royal College of Art, UK

"Dr Hilary Collins’ updated book is an excellent guide to both the theory and practice of how to use insight and research in the creative process. Anyone interested in improving their creativity in business should get a copy. The cultural economy and creative industry demands excellence and Dr Collins offers a brilliant overview of why, what and how to use research to achieve this." - Chris Nurko, Global Director, Brand Integrity & Experience, DDB Worldwide

"This is a welcome addition to creative and design research literature. Dr. Collins gives theory the emphasis needed to provide much needed balance to practice. Creative Research: The Theory and Practice of Research for the Creative Industries achieves its aim “to promote understanding of the role of research in the creative industries and to emphasize the importance of research as a way of validating creativity"." - Christine Z Miller, Ph.D. Professor, Design Management, Savannah College of Art and Design, USA