The document outlines a 9-step process for conducting directed research: 1) collect information from trusted sources, 2) seek insights from thought leaders, 3) conduct ethnographic research, 4) seek advice from non-designers, 5) use free writing exercises, 6) structure research to optimize subconscious problem solving, 7) create analogies, 8) conduct thought experiments, and 9) develop conclusions and experiments to test them. The goal is to gather information through various methods in order to gain new insights and develop conclusions.

1. 5. free writing
2. thought leaders
1. trusted research 7. find analogies
8. thought experiments4. non-designers
9. conclusions3. ethnographic research
6. activate your subconscious
John Olson · Directed Research 2013 · Tom Klinkowstein

2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Collect information from
trusted research sources.
Professional periodicals
Library resources
Trusted websites.
John Olson · Directed Research 2013 · Tom Klinkowstein

3. Seek insights from
industry “thought leaders”
John Olson · Directed Research 2013 · Tom Klinkowstein
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4. Conduct ethnographic research.
John Olson · Directed Research 2013 · Tom Klinkowstein
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5. Seek the advice
and opinions
of Non-Designers.
John Olson · Directed Research 2013 · Tom Klinkowstein
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6. Process thoughts,
reactions and questions through
free-writing exercises
John Olson · Directed Research 2013 · Tom Klinkowstein
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7. Structure your research
schedule to optimize your
subconscious problem
solving ability.
John Olson · Directed Research 2013 · Tom Klinkowstein
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8. Create analogies.
Analyze scenarios from history or other
fields of study that are applicable to your subject.
John Olson · Directed Research 2013 · Tom Klinkowstein
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9. Conduct thought experiments.
Asses sets of possible future consequences
from the data you have collected.
John Olson · Directed Research 2013 · Tom Klinkowstein
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10. Develop a conclusion
Create proposals for experiments
to test this conclusion.
John Olson · Directed Research 2013 · Tom Klinkowstein
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

11. John Olson · Directed Research 2013 · Tom Klinkowstein
Thesis Topics

12. John Olson · Directed Research 2013 · Tom Klinkowstein
user-created content and social activism

13. John Olson · Directed Research 2013 · Tom Klinkowstein
user-created content and social activism

14. John Olson · Directed Research 2013 · Tom Klinkowstein
I want to explore the correlation between user-created
visual content and activism among millennials
through digital social media
Because I want to see how social activism
is different for digital natives when compared to
past generations
To create a system to better utilize user-created content
as a tool for social and political engagement

15. John Olson · Directed Research 2013 · Tom Klinkowstein
dadaism and mobile UX design

16. John Olson · Directed Research 2013 · Tom Klinkowstein
I want to explore the “nonsensical” tenants of
Dadaism and their possible application to
contemporary digital user-experience design
Because I want see how “illogicality” can be applied to
the overly rationalized work of UX design
To better emulate the surprising (and irrational)
elements of human behavior and create more
engaging digital content.

17. John Olson · Directed Research 2013 · Tom Klinkowstein
transparency and political branding

18. John Olson · Directed Research 2013 · Tom Klinkowstein
I want to explore political slogans and branding in contrast with
visuals created using live-time metadata
Because I want to learn more about complex political realities that
are often broken down into a single word or phrase
To find ways to reimagine the political brand using new
technologies in order to create a more authentic / transparent
forms of political messaging.

19. John Olson · Directed Research 2013 · Tom Klinkowstein
user-created content and social activism
dadaism and mobile UX design
transparency and political branding