Action research is a way of looking at the process of design as a form of research. It is about cyclical planing, acting, observing and reflecting. The main thing to keep in mind is that research should never be separate from practice.

The cyclical nature of action research translates so well to design because it is very analogous to the cyclical nature of the design process. Both models are iterative and self reflective. Action research requires the research process—the design process—to become visible.

This data visualization illustrates how research and design go hand in hand. Read Less