Design laboratories: interdisciplinary research centers of 21st century

Abstract

In the 21th century; which is accepted as the information age, the pace of information generation and multiplication is incredible, yet it is impossible to control the rate of information parmeation, although it was important to generate, multiplicate and publicate the information until the late years of 20th century.We know that in the past centuries, it is accepted that only the studies in natural sciences can be conducted in a laboratory environment. Since design discipline is able to create mutual associations with all fields of natural and social sciences; which has been disregarded for decades, design studies have always been located in the background. Currently design laboratories are being re-structured in order to generate and multiply creative ideas.The aim of this study is to investigate Design Labs as a new structure for interdisciplinary design studies, and to discuss on the new opportunities they create within the discipline.

Keywords: Design Labs, interdisciplinarity, design researchs, industrial design, multidisciplinarity