Designers need to use research tools to better understand reality and improve their work. By incorporating theory and methods, designers can create more effective solutions and elevate their role from artisans to professionals. The essay discusses the importance of research in design practice, the potential for design to evolve professionally, and the methods that can support this evolution. Herbert Simon emphasizes that designers aim to change existing situations into preferred ones by creating artifacts to achieve goals. Communication design, as an example, helps people make sense of the world by visualizing information to inform or persuade.