Data Exploration for Generative Design Research

The current work elaborates upon a Generative Data Exploration method, which is a
design technique aiming at supporting designers in integrating data in their design
activities. Digital data offers new opportunities in all sort of professional domains, yet
existing approaches and tools to manipulate data are predominantly targeted at data
experts. As access to data is becoming democratised, new types of techniques are
needed to leverage the agency of designers and to empower them to utilise data in
the design process. Designers without prior data experience can benefit from the
techniques, know-how, best practices of experts, if such expert knowledge is codified
in design methods and tools. The aims of a Generative Data Exploration method are
two-fold. First, the method facilitates a learning curve on gaining holistic data literacy.
Second, the method supports designing where digital data, exploration of data and
sense-making of data is part of the process.