Contract research, which is a commercial research service undertaken for commissioning clients, may be seen to amount to little more than jobbing work. This paper considers case studies undertaken by my own university unit in light of various theoretical positions about research as a knowledge building activity, paying particular attention to the notions of innovation characterised in patent regulations. The review suggests that design research into a single area, such as our case study of rotationally moulded products, typically involves the skills of project management, with a greater requirement for broad knowledge of a number of research methodologies, rather than just one that is especial to design research. These reflections may suggest that a shared understanding of design research is as well assisted by retrospective examination of practice, as by prospective theoretical debate.