Design research faces a critical 'impact gap' where the potential for scientific and practical impact is yet to be fully realised. A key means of bridging this gap is the adoption of fundamental theory from other fields to support clarification and synergy in design research. In this paper we examine one of the main candidates for adoption: dual-process theory of cognition. Cognition forms a common element across much of the design literature and leads to fundamental dual-process theories of reasoning. While dual-process theory has started to be recognised in design research, its widespread recognition and potential utility have not been widely explored. Following a conceptual theory development approach we identify and logically describe interactions between dual-process theory and design research. We conclude the paper with a proposition of a design research framework with a core rooted in dual-process theory, and based on this, an agenda for theory-driven design research. This contributes to the debate on how to improve impact, and theoretical and scientific rigour in design research, and provides a concrete agenda for discussion and development within the community.

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This thesis takes the perspective that ‘a design approach’ might help to better understand and educate the business proposition development in new high-tech ventures. This has been observed at the faculty of Industrial Design Engineering at the Delft University of Technology, where design students (without an entrepreneurial education) start their new high-tech ventures. Furthermore, there are some implications in literature suggest that design improves entrepreneurship education. However, it is unknown what this design approach exactly is, and how and why it is helpful. This thesis will explore these questions.@en