A Systematic Review of Design Research Approaches in Architectural Design Processes

Subject Areas : Architecture

Amirali Alaie ¹ , Nooshin Ziashahabi ² , Ahmad Ekhlassi ³ , Mohsen Faizi ⁴ , Seyed Abbas Yazdanfar ⁵

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Received: 2024-11-05 Accepted : 2025-07-05 Published : 2025-07-14

Keywords: Design Research, Architectural Education, Research about Design, Research through Design, Research for Design, Systematic Review,

Abstract :

This paper reviews 70 scholarly studies to explore and organize key methodologies in architectural design research through a systematic lens. It is grounded on three widely used frameworks: Frayling's research into, through, and for design; Cross's typology of design knowledge as epistemological, praxeological, and phenomenological; and Buchanan's basic, applied, and clinical research model. The study employed a structured review procedure, following PRISMA guidelines, to evaluate articles from 1982 to 2023 in major scholarly databases. A shared set of strategies and methods was also developed for each type of design research. The proposed conceptual framework—derived from the timing of the research intervention (pre-, through-, or post-design)—provided a more distinct charting of the research landscape. It revealed prevalent clusters of design research practice, each shaped by unique pairs of epistemological emphasis and methodological stance. Based on past studies, this research developed a further typology known as research through design (II), an expansion of the three earlier categories. By offering a distinct and understandable classification, the article aims to assist architecture students, instructors, and novice researchers in selecting the most suitable research approaches. The conclusions enhance the clarity of architectural education and help position design research as a central component of both academic study and professional practice.

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