Currently we have decided to name our research group the Eclectic Design Research Group. The naming of this group, however, has been a never-ending saga, so do not be surprised if the name changes again. Originally, we called ourselves the CSCW Research Group (the Computer Supported Cooperative Work Research Group), for lack of a better name. But our topics of interest and topics of discussion have ranged far beyond what would traditionally be considered CSCW research. For example, we have discussed topics in knowledge management (KM), human-computer interaction (HCI), computer-mediated communication (CMC), social informatics (SI), and sociotechnical systems. One common theme of the group is our interest in design. Another common theme of the group is our interest in rapid, iterative methods. A third theme is our focus on what people actually do. Thus rapid prototyping and evaluation, scenario based design, participatory design, etc., are all topics which we recurringly address.

The reason for choosing the name, “Eclectic Design Research Group” is based on the first definition of the word in Merriam Webster’s Online dictionary:

“1: selecting what appears to be best in various doctrines, methods, or styles”

http://m-w.com/dictionary/Eclectic

Why? Because that is what we do. We do not believe in picking a single doctrine, field, method, approach, style, etc. Rather, we are constantly exploring new ideas, new methods, and new approaches to design, and always welcome new types of design projects. The purpose is to try to understand the nature of design, and to develop principles of design that are robust across different applications.