Although research has always involved the notion of design, but its use has evolved to represent a new approach to research. The new approach combines research and design in order to solve every day problems that researchers are faced with. One educational area that can benefit from this approach is STEAM based education, i.e. teaching and learning that is based on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. A set of 26 articles on STEAM education were perused and their findings on Design Research combined in order to clarify its characteristics. The findings are indicative of six main stages in design research: Data collection, problem identification, progressive and regulated design, regulated interventional and cooperative implementation, cumulative evaluation, and replication and reflection on the process of design research. Based on these stages 15 main themes and 27 sub-themes were identified, among which being problem based and cooperative stand out. This type of research can be efficient and effective as it reduces cost and shies away from unnecessary hypothesizing.