Design Informed

The Power of Evidence to Create Design Excellence.This practical, accessible book—for design professionals and students alike—is about design excellence and how to achieve it. The authors propose an evidence-based design approach that builds on design ingenuity with the use of research in ways that enhance opportunities to innovate. They show the power of research data to both reveal new design opportunities and convince stakeholders of the value of extraordinary work. A guide for all designers who want to earn their place as their clients' trusted advisor and who aspire to create places of beauty and purpose, the book demonstrates:

• An approach to applying evidence to design that neither turns designers into scientists nor requires large-firm resources

• The wide range of types of evidence that can be applicable to design and where to look for it

• Direct, practical application of the evidence-based design approaches in use today

• Provides tools to distinguish strong evidence that can improve design decisions from misleading assertions resulting from weak research

• Benefits of evidence-based design, including improved human and building performance