In recent years design research has been widely discussed in terms of its theory, its models and its underlying scientific possibilities and limits. «Focused», the 2008 Symposium of the Swiss Design Network (SDN), puts the “daily practice” of design research on its agenda. Real-world design research projects are illustrated by the questions, processes, methods and activities with which they have been planned, approached, executed and evaluated. The projects in this volume are connected to various design disciplines, ranging from product design to interface design, visual communication, design management and service design. In other words, the following projects are either related to products, services, interfaces, information, communication and environments, or they focus on integrated systems of products, services and customer experiences.