The difference between design and research

The difference between design and research seems to be a question of new versus good. Design doesn’t have to be new, but it has to be good. Research doesn’t have to be good, but it has to be new. I think these two paths converge at the top: the best design surpasses its predecessors by using new ideas, and the best research solves problems that are not only new, but actually worth solving. So ultimately we’re aiming for the same destination, just approaching it from different directions.

From the opening of Paul Graham’s essay on Design and Research.

One response to “The difference between design and research”

  1. I disagree with Paul Graham – in my book(opinion) research has to be good (I hate sloppy research) and the sources for research maybe in antiquity. Some “old” sources for research are better than the new ones… it depends what my ultimate focus is…

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