On the definition of innovation in design: Using network analysis to explore complex concepts

Abstract

This paper, aiming at understanding the different definitions of innovation in the design domain, mapped all of its citations in one of the journals that best reflects its research state of art. This quantitative and qualitative exploratory study was conducted by using a variant of content analysis technique and the network analysis technique. Based on the 13 appropriate papers found, 163 semantic categories were discerned and fully connected in a network composed of 8 clusters. According to this framework, innovation in the design domain refers primarily to the socially accepted alternatives adopted by companies to tackle the present problems and the future risks, especially through the development of new tailor-made products to satisfy market needs.

Keywords

• innovation
• design
• network analysis
• content analysis