Kansas City Art Institute alum Michael R. Gibson (’85 Graphic Design) has co-authored a new book titled Navigating the Landscapes of Design Research: Finding Your Way, published by Routledge Publishing. Written alongside his long-time colleague Keith Owens, the book maps why design research exists as it does and reveals the connections between its many pathways. Gibson emphasizes that in a world demanding concrete assurances for investments in products, services, and brand systems, designers must learn to formulate and analyze data themselves, a vital human skill that artificial intelligence cannot replicate. The book is a guide for new and experienced designers on how to dig deeper into the reasons behind their work, not just the final result.

The inspiration for the book grew out of more than two decades of shared teaching experience between Gibson and Owens within the Department of Design at the University of North Texas (UNT). Over the years, they noticed that many graduate students, despite having professional design experience, were missing the foundational skills needed for research. Realizing that undergraduate programs rarely introduce designers to the mechanics of data collection and strategic framing, the co-authors set out to bridge the gap. They built this text to empower designers and their collaborators to confidently navigate complex social, technological, environmental, and economic issues, using research to turn difficult situations around.

Gibson’s own path toward design research and writing began during an unconventional, rigorous educational journey at KCAI from 1981 to 1985. Immersed in both graphic and industrial design, he was continually challenged by instructors and peers to move beyond merely creating marketable, visually appealing products. Instead, KCAI pushed him to design work that made people think differently, teaching him that writing and design go hand-in-hand. Today, Gibson brings that same sharp focus to his role as a Full Professor of Visual Communication Design in the College of Visual Arts and Design at UNT, where he also serves as the Graduate Program Coordinator for the Master’s level program in Interaction Design and teaches within the User Experience (UX) track.

Navigating the Landscapes of Design Research: Finding Your Way is currently available for purchase through Amazon and the official Routledge Publishing website. For readers looking for the most accessible options, the digital e-book and Kindle versions are widely available alongside the traditional hardcover release.