At InformeDesign we believe that for the body of knowledge to grow and design practitioners to use research to inform their designs, people need to know each other better. Therefore, we have established Collaborative Research Opportunities to operate as a "matchmaking" service--between researchers who have a research agenda and interests, academic responsibility to engage in research and outreach, a knowledge of the scientific methods, and ideas about funding with the practitioners who have the clients, the project, the occupants, the visitors and the experience. Each side has the capability to add value to the work and the body of knowledge, and we think that collaboration can move the effort forward in a manner unparalleled to this point.

How it Works
You might ask, "what is the benefit of doing this?" Perhaps you are designing a new elementary school and there is a researcher who is interested in examining how the educational environment affects learning. If collaboration occurs, the researcher can help determine an appropriate study model and theoretical basis of the examination, select the subjects, devise the testing method, identify how the analysis will be conducted, and possibly identify funding sources. The practitioner can provide the subjects and the site, the data regarding the spatial and technical aspects of the building, the programming documentation, and act as the bridge to the client and users of the environment. The end product could be a case study or a post-occupancy evaluation that could be published and disseminated to others involved in either the design of spaces for children, researchers who are interested in studies that relate to their research, or assist educators in teaching the next generation of design professionals.

How You Can Help
We have devised a simple form for you to complete, on-line. Filling it out as completely as possible will assist you in identifying a collaborative opportunity. We will compile the information and post it in this section of the Web site so that the match-making can begin! To enter information about yourself and your research or practice interests, click on Collaboration Request.