Research-through-Design

A research methodology, articulated by Zimmerman, Forlizzi, and Evenson (2007), in which the act of designing artefacts is itself the mode of inquiry. Knowledge is produced through iterative cycles of prototyping, deployment, evaluation, and reflection, and is typically disseminated through the artefact, its documentation, and critical reflection on the design choices. RtD is widely used in accessibility HCI because it allows researchers to produce concrete, situated solutions for specific users while generating transferable design knowledge — particularly useful when the "problem" and "solution" co-evolve through contact with disabled collaborators and their contexts.