There is no single, perfect answer to the question of what design research is. Rather, this subject comprises multiple perspectives that have the effect of removing the strict separations between theory and practice as well as between research approaches from science and humanities. Firstly, there is the classic research in different academic domains that extensively studies a certain aspect of design (foundational academic research). On top of that, there is user-oriented, non-academic design research that seeks to improve a real or virtual product with regard to its functions, including technically, ergonomically and aesthetically. This research frequently faces the problem that it must balance numerous issues in a heterogeneous and occasionally paradoxical product (and potentially also production process).

Furthermore, common practice also includes a bidirectional transfer of academic and non-academic research approaches (e.g. if there are methods being applied that mediate between logical aspects and intuitive, creative ones).