Good Design & Ironclad Research

With all the talk about parallel/contexual/ethnographic research, strategic design and design management, can anyone recall a project (your firm or other) where these aspects culminated and all came together?

What is your favorite project/item that exhibited good design coupled with ironclad research of recent.

my favorite happened almost 9 years ago. been striving to put that effort into my projects and employers since.

Kung Fu Jesus, What was the product 9 years ago?

it was an office system.

The Knoll A3 looks cool, also that luxury plane that has a bed in it. Can’t remember the name though.