ABOUT CIDI

About us

Center for Design Research

The Center for Design Research (CDR, or CIDI by the acronym in Spanish for Centro de Investigación de Diseño) is a research center that focuses on the study of the different processes related to the formulation and resolution of design problems. These areas include studies in cognition in the formulation and solution of problems of design, designer’s social interaction, and the study of the different techniques and methods used in designing. In addition to these research activities, the Centre carries out educational and consulting projects connected to topics related to diverse dimension of the design process.

Objectives

The main goal is to establish a program of research, discussion, and generation of knowledge about the various aspects involved in solving design problems, starting from teaching of this activity to the practice of it in professional life. To achieve this goal, we have set the following objectives:

Establish a design research community that involves the faculty and the students at the School of Architecture.
Establish research and teaching relationships with researchers and practitioners from other areas of knowledge related to architecture, inside and outside the University of Puerto Rico system.
Establish research, extension and teaching programs that relate the center to professional institutions in Puerto Rico.
Establish a program of applications for grants and financing that allows the generation of its own resources through research and extension works that allow sustaining the activities of the Center.
Establish a physical plant that allows advanced research in the design area, both for the faculty interested in the area, as well as for those students of the School and/or other areas of the Campus, interested in design and problem solving.