This studio course introduces students to the theory and practice of various types of design research including human-centered qualitative and ethnographic methods as well as formal and analytical techniques geared toward pragmatic design applications. Students will design imaginative tools to expand their understanding of individuals, groups of people and/or situated context. Representational methods such as mental models, scenario-building and analysis help students identify and articulate patterns in qualitative data to inform design. Students will design and build imaginative tools for use in ethnographic research in order to expand understanding of a group of people and/or situated context. Concept mock-ups and prototypes will be created based on insights developed in the course. This course creates the foundation of research for all courses across the IXD program