Paul Rodgers Design Priority Area Leadership Fellowship

Lead Research Organisation: Lancaster University
Department Name: Lancaster Inst for the Contemporary Arts

Abstract

My vision, throughout this fellowship and in line with the AHRC Design initiative "Design for Change", is to achieve real and long-lasting transformation and impact, to enact alternative, positive, and help achieve real developments within the culture of design research that will equip it for the challenges of the future. This requires more than traditional quantitative and qualitative research. It requires evidence to become informed and intuition to inspire us in imagining and creating new and better possibilities. My aim is to achieve change that will make real differences to the lives of individuals, groups, communities and society as a whole. Working collaboratively with researchers in other disciplinary areas, I will take the lead in identifying opportunities for collaboration, trends in research, and organising events on behalf of the AHRC and work to shape preferred realities and positive future visions around key challenges (e.g. sustainability, health, security, care, poverty) where design thought and action is key. For example, this may involve the co-design and co-development of novel products that will lift people out of poverty. It might include the design of innovative services in care that will improve the health and well being of families across the country. It may comprise the design and development of new policies that will reduce further harm to our planet. My vision will be inclusive in its scope and encourage projects that adopt and utilize an mélange of different types of design research including experimental, practice-based, and hybrid approaches and methods. This will show the various cultures of design research that coexist and celebrate this pluralism in what is rapidly becoming a very healthy and mature field of research. The fellowship role will allow me to encourage and enhance projects under the "Design for Change" banner to utilize research approaches and methods that fit their purpose. "Design for Change" will borrow methods and approaches that fit from the physical sciences, the social sciences, and the arts and humanities if and when the situation arises. Adopting a pluralistic approach will allow for a flexible and open-minded exploration across the breadth of design and other disciplines and will support bringing these cross-disciplinary methodologies and communities together to strengthen the Design research base. By building purposeful relationships design researchers (working with other disciplines, professionals and citizens) will enhance their own and others' abilities to challenge existing economic, social, environmental, and political models. This will help us to understand and strengthen the inter-relations between design research and design practice (i.e. design consultancies / agencies and design teaching), and end-users. Creating, for instance, more sustainable product design, services, and processes, whilst rethinking how policy might work better. Collaboration alone, however, will not be enough. We require shifts in our cultures of co-design, co-innovation, and co-production, collectively deciding and socially organizing the future world that we will all be proud to share. My belief is that design is the best tool that we have for making sense of the complex, multi-faceted world we all inhabit. Design in the way that it can holistically explore, critique, and define what needs to be done, synthesize and propose future scenarios, and present, visualize, and communicate those ideas to others can be at the forefront of shaping preferred realities and future experiences. The objective being to develop mechanisms for enhanced co-design, co-innovation, and co-production, collectively deciding and shaping preferred situations.

Planned Impact

To achieve my vision of enhanced cultures of co-design, co-innovation, and co-production, collectively deciding and shaping preferred situations, I will act as an ambassador for the Design research area. I will be a design champion on behalf of the AHRC and the Design community and work tirelessly in partnership with the AHRC in undertaking the leadership fellow role. My aim is that the 3 year programme will result in a transformational shift in the focus, quality and impact of design research, and the fellowship will leave a legacy of evidence and examples, and a bolder, stronger interdisciplinary design community with a new generation of early career researchers engaging with a "Design for Change" agenda. The tasks and activities will run in parallel and include:

Activity 1: Advise, Develop and Communicate. Working closely with the AHRC to help support and advise on its design funding initiatives and ensure that its existing funding schemes speak to relevant audiences (e.g. design practitioners and consultancies, government representatives, and others).

Activity 2: Co-Design and Collaboration. I will work across the whole gamut of Design research areas and bring together the wide remit of AHRC funded research in Design, across the Creative Arts and Digital Humanities team and more widely to build productive and impactful partnerships with other Research Councils (e.g. EPSRC, ESRC, Innovate UK), stakeholders with an interest in Design (e.g. Design Museum, London, the Design Council, RSA) in order to explore opportunities for collaboration and ensure complementarity in activities.

Activity 3: Identify, Inform and Illustrate Impact. Review of the RCUK's "Gateway to Research" and AHRC's research portfolio to illustrate the power, impact, and diversity of design research and to illustrate the forward potential.

Activity 4: Build Productive Design Research Networks. Establish research networks, advisory group, and a series of regular regional multi-disciplinary workshops/ design labs/ studios on emerging issues to launch the basis for further collaboration for projects that will effect real and sustainable change.

Activity 5: Innovate with the Next Generation. Strengthen greater links between the existing Centres of Doctoral Training in design, through workshops and make recommendations for innovation in training and approaches to PhD's linking into the expertise of the KE Hubs (such as the Creative Exchange hub led by Lancaster) that developed a new approach to doctoral training in the creative industries.

Activity 6: Create the Legacy. Working closely with the AHRC, the AHRC Commons Leadership Fellow, and other Theme and Priority Leadership Fellows, I will develop an online design space that will act as a lasting legacy of the fellowship as well as explore opportunities for joint collaborative activities.


Activity 7: Disseminate the Knowledge. Using insight and evaluation of the above I will develop a framework and series of case studies that illustrate the impact of design research in publications (i.e. books, journal papers, and other creative media e.g. film, video, exhibitions).

Activity 8: Respond to Landscape. Identify and embrace emergent opportunities that drive forward the design research agenda and offer opportunities for sustainable impact.

Publications

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Bremner, C. (2022) "Si le design n'est pas la réponse, que pourrait-il être?" ("Design is the answer, but what was the question?") in Multitudes

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Bremner, C. (2020) Design for the Unthinkable-World: Strange Ecology and Unwelcome Change

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Carey D (2017) User-Designed Dementia Care Pathways. A disruptive approach to mapping dementia support services in The Design Journal

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Carey D. (2017) User-Designed Dementia Care Pathways. A disruptive approach to mapping dementia support services

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Cooper R (2018) ImaginationLancaster: Open-Ended, Anti-Disciplinary, Diverse in She Ji: The Journal of Design, Economics, and Innovation

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Cooper, R. (2018) ImaginationLancaster: Open-Ended, Anti-Disciplinary, Diverse in She Ji: The Journal of Design, Economics, and Innovation

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E. Winton (2020) Designing for Inclusion: Cross-disciplinarity is the Key to Success

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Giovanni Innella (2018) Why We Need Engineers to Make Art in Design Research Society 2018 Conference

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Innella G (2017) The Commodity of Trade in Contemporary Design in The Design Journal

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Innella G (2021) The Benefits of a Convergence between Art and Engineering in HighTech and Innovation Journal

 
Title Building an UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship Application Toolkit 
Description The UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Future Leaders Fellowship (FLF) scheme has been created to support Early Career Researchers (ECRs) and innovators who have outstanding potential. The support offered will be long-term and flexible, with four to seven years of support available of up to £1.2 million per applicant. This toolkit has been produced as a legacy from the 'UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship' workshop series aimed at supporting Early Career Design Researchers with practical advice to help understand this opportunity and develop their applications to the scheme. The tool had been designed to directly reflect the types of information that will be required by the Je-S form when submitting a proposal. The workshop participants have been introduced to the Je-S system via screenshots although it is interesting to note that many had not heard of or seen the system before the workshop and many were daunted by its complexity. 
Type Of Art Artefact (including digital) 
Year Produced 2018 
Impact The toolkit has been used by over 200 early career design researchers. The toolkit has been produced as a legacy from the 'UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship' workshop series aimed at supporting Early Career Design Researchers with practical advice to help understand this opportunity and develop their applications to the scheme. A notable impact is that the UKRI FLF scheme has seen an increase in the number of applications from early career design researchers. 
URL https://www.designresearchforchange.co.uk/ukri-design-future-leaders-fellowship-workshop/
 
Title Design Research for Change Showcase 
Description In 2018 we launched a call for contributions for a Design Research for Change Showcase at The Truman Brewery in London as part of the London Design Festival. From a wide range of responses, 67 AHRC funded design research projects were identified for inclusion in the showcase by a curatorial panel consisting of members of the Design Leadership Fellowship's Theme Advisory Group. The showcase took place during the entire four days of the London Design Fair in September 2018 which was visited by over 30,000 visitors including trade, press and the general public. Design Week, one of the key design trade magazines in the UK, listed the Design Research for Change Showcase in the Top 10 list of things to see during the London Design Festival. A catalogue entitled Design Research for Change, that comprises further information on the 67 projects featured in the showcase, was produced in an edition of 1000. The catalogue has been distributed to visitors to the exhibition and also recently to over 150 of the leading design schools across the world from India to South Korea; Slovenia to Estonia; Australia to USA and many other countries. Feedback from a wide range of stakeholders including design researchers, practitioners, critics, government funding agencies, and the general public on the Design Research for Change Showcase was incredibly positive. 
Type Of Art Artistic/Creative Exhibition 
Year Produced 2018 
Impact The Design Research for Change Showcase was visited by over 30,000 visitors including trade, press and the general public over the course of 4 days. Design Week, one of the key design trade magazines in the UK, listed the Design Research for Change Showcase in the Top 10 list of things to see during the London Design Festival. A catalogue entitled Design Research for Change, that comprises further information on the 67 projects featured in the showcase, was produced in an edition of 1000. The catalogue has been distributed to visitors to the exhibition and also recently to over 160 of the leading design schools across the world from India to South Korea; Slovenia to Estonia; Australia to USA and many other countries. Feedback from a wide range of stakeholders including design researchers, practitioners, critics, government funding agencies, and the general public on the Design Research for Change Showcase was incredibly positive. 
URL https://www.designresearchforchange.co.uk/showcase/
 
Title Design Research for Change Showcase 2019 
Description In 2019 we launched a call for contributions for a Design Research for Change Showcase at The Truman Brewery in London as part of the London Design Festival. From a wide range of responses, over 50 AHRC funded design research projects were identified for inclusion in the showcase by a curatorial panel consisting of members of the Design Leadership Fellowship's Theme Advisory Group. The showcase took place during the entire four days of the London Design Fair in September 2019 which was visited by over 30,000 visitors including trade, press and the general public. A catalogue entitled Design Research for Change, that comprises further information on the 50+ projects featured in the showcase, was produced in an edition of 1000. The catalogue has been distributed to visitors to the exhibition and also recently to over 150 of the leading design schools across the world from India to South Korea; Slovenia to Estonia; Australia to USA and many other countries. Feedback from a wide range of stakeholders including design researchers, practitioners, critics, government funding agencies, and the general public on the Design Research for Change Showcase was incredibly positive. 
Type Of Art Artistic/Creative Exhibition 
Year Produced 2019 
Impact The Design Research for Change Showcase was visited by over 30,000 visitors including trade, press and the general public over the course of 4 days. A catalogue entitled Design Research for Change, that comprises further information on the 50+ projects featured in the showcase, was produced in an edition of 1000. The catalogue has been distributed to visitors to the exhibition and also recently to over 160 of the leading design schools across the world from India to South Korea; Slovenia to Estonia; Australia to USA and many other countries. Feedback from a wide range of stakeholders including design researchers, practitioners, critics, government funding agencies, and the general public on the Design Research for Change Showcase was incredibly positive. 
URL https://www.designresearchforchange.co.uk/design-research-for-change-showcase-2019-at-london-design-...
 
Description Our early findings from my AHRC Design Leadership Fellowship are being used to highlight and articulate the wide-ranging and significant design-led research in the UK. The scale and scope of this transformative research is widespread across the UK and beyond and is contributing to significant positive change. We are discovering that design-led research is at the forefront of most of this world-changing research. We are also discovering numerous opportunities where design-led research can play a leading part.

Over the course of the last 36 months, between January 2017 and December 2019, I have had the privilege of meeting and working with a large number of amazing design researchers and researchers from other disciplines based all over the UK. My Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Design Leadership Fellowship role has taken me the length and breadth of the UK from Glasgow in the north to Falmouth in the south and from Ulster in the west to Edinburgh in the east. During my three-year Design Leadership Fellowship, I have met and worked with well over 2,000 design researchers and researchers from other disciplines.

To meet my Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Design Leadership Fellowship aims of increasing both the quantity and quality of design-led research proposals, strengthening the research capacity of the next generation of design researchers, advocating for design research across all sectors of UK society, and using design research wherever and whenever appropriate as a tool for delivering positive social change, I organised and ran a series of events and activities aimed at enhancing the design research community across the UK.

This has included organising and holding ten Next Generation Design Research workshops developed to support early career design researchers learn more about the processes and language used in funding council research proposals. We also developed a workshop entitled "How to write an AHRC proposal in 2 hours" aimed at early career researchers writing their first AHRC funding application. We also developed a workshop and toolkit specifically for the UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship scheme and delivered this to packed audiences at the AHRC's centres for doctoral training in the UK - University of Reading, Northumbria University, Falmouth University, and the Royal College of Art. Over 1,500 early career researchers directly or indirectly associated with design research registered and attended these workshops.

In advocating for design research across all sectors of UK society, I have written and presented a number of papers at leading international design research events. This has included several invited lectures at key institutions both in the UK and abroad, eight conference and journal papers, four books, an ongoing book series entitled Design Research for Change (Routledge Publishers), and other directly relevant outputs including two significant showcases at London Design Fair (2018 and 2019) that attracted a combined total of over 60,000 visitors.

In terms of social media, the reach of my AHRC Design Leadership Fellowship can be seen through a range of social media, with over 2,500 Twitter followers across two accounts (@paulstweet and @AHRCDesignLF). The website www.designresearchforchange.co.uk has had over 5,000 page views to date and over 1,500 people signed up to our mailing list to hear more about events and opportunities. Our Twitter following is completely organic; we do not utilise any paid for advertising, followers or "likes". The current cumulative following have been gained organically as a direct response to our AHRC Design Leadership Fellowship engagement activities. Both Twitter handles @AHRCDesignLF and @paulstweet are used to communicate relevant design research content. Instagram is also used for image-based content via @designresearchforchange. Currently there are nearly 300 followers on this channel which has mostly image-based content promoting the AHRC Design Leadership Fellowship workshops and events. Instagram has allowed us to build a social network that connects people solely through visual elements and we see this as a powerful way to capture and sustain attention. We have noticed a very good response to our workshop activity images and this may inspire others to sign up for similar events. Lastly, we used Eventbrite to promote the AHRC Design Leadership Fellowship workshops and events. The workshops have been in great demand and we have filled nearly all of the available places with almost 7,000 page views on Eventbrite.
Exploitation Route We are highlighting methods and tools and ways of working that design researchers commonly use in their work. This range of creative and often highly innovative research methods, tools and approaches will have relevance to many other researchers in a range of disciplines. Our early findings on the scope and scale of design research in the UK can also be taken forward by others across the UK to support further interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research in the UK and elsewhere.

The workshop tools and methods developed for the Next Generation Design Research workshops, "How to Write an AHRC Design Research Proposal in 2 Hours..." workshops, and the UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship workshops are intended to be used by researchers and practitioners from other disciplines.

Design researchers and practitioners contribute to a nation's economy, support industrial competitiveness, innovation, knowledge, skills, and social policy. Through collaboration with researchers and practitioners across disciplinary fields, designers generate knowledge which is applied also in other sectors, for instance in healthcare, urban planning, engineering, computing, and business, to name but a few. On the other hand, how design research draws value from other disciplinary fields and at the same time creates value of its own is a critical topic of debate within the academic design community. Furthermore, governments and funding bodies are increasingly concerned with measuring the impact of design research, posing the need for fair, robust and transparent processes for assessing the value of design research. It is often challenging to measure the intangible outcomes of design research in quantitative terms, even because impacts often take a long time to become manifest and may be generated by a multitude of actors.
With these challenges in mind, building on different value theories for economics, sustainable development and social sciences, we have contributed an original Design Research Value Model, which enables design researchers, funding bodies and the general public to identify and articulate the significant roles that design research plays in generating social, cultural, economic and environmental value. For the purpose of this journal article, we have applied this 4-leaf model to review a sample of 67 AHRC-funded design research projects that transverse conceptual, disciplinary and methodological boundaries and that represent the breadth and depth of contemporary design research in the UK.
The article has revealed that the majority (37%) of the sample of design research projects analysed here contributes to creating social change. Within this context, this means empowering people (especially disadvantaged groups) to gain agency, enhancing the quality of their lives, and improving social wellbeing through better social interactions. Furthermore, it is clear that recent forms of social design research have shifted the focus from individual users towards communities with the aim to generate collective value, fulfil social needs while also triggering new social relationships.
In terms of cultural value, 27% of the sample of design research projects contribute to individuals and societies through artistic and cultural practices such as sound art, performance, storytelling, and others. Within the scope of the 67 design research projects analysed here, cultural value refers mainly to heritage as an asset that is getting lost in contemporary culture, and that design research is increasingly concerned with preserving and revitalizing, for instance through undertaking archival studies and developing digital innovations.
Over one in five of the 67 design research projects analysed here generates economic value, in terms of employment opportunities in the creative economy, and embedding technological innovations within enterprises and manufacturing businesses. For example, new business opportunities or new business models are generated through knowledge exchange between academic researchers and industries or other types of organisations.
Surprisingly, only one of the 67 AHRC-funded design research projects analysed in this journal article is deemed to create environmental value, which here refers to making sustainable use of resources, protecting biodiversity and ecosystems, and adopting production processes that reduce the negative impacts of human activity on the wellbeing of society and the environment. This is a result that design research needs to improve upon quickly and substantially in order to tackle the complex challenges of today's and tomorrow's world.
Finally, this work has highlighted that most of the design research projects synergistically create more than one type of value - generating an interesting mix of social, cultural, economic, and environmental value - and has identified lacunae for the design research community to focus on in future years.
Sectors Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Agriculture, Food and Drink,Chemicals,Communities and Social Services/Policy,Construction,Creative Economy,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Education,Electronics,Energy,Environment,Financial Services, and Management Consultancy,Healthcare,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Government, Democracy and Justice,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections,Pharmaceu
URL https://www.designresearchforchange.co.uk
 
Description My AHRC Design Leadership Fellowship is ongoing. However, I have presented my work and early findings to a variety of audiences including practitioners, policy makers, relevant organisations and industries, as well as to other cognate disciplines such as those involved in health, ageing and wellbeing areas. These early findings are being used to highlight and articulate the potential of design research and activities in a wide variety of complex global issues (e.g. health and wellbeing, economic growth, sustainable production and consumption, and many more). In short, the findings are being used to highlight a number of key roles that design has played in past projects and how it can be used to great effect in future significant, complex issues. Starting in February 2017 we conducted a survey of the design research community eliciting responses from over 300 participants from a wide range of career stages and design disciplines including Independent Researchers, Postdoctoral Researchers, Entrepreneurs and Consultants, Heads of Department, Principal Lecturers, PhD students, Associate Professors, Readers, Assistant Professors, Research Managers, Early Career Researchers, and others. I have developed and held a range of events and workshops for the design research community. To date, we have over 900 Early Career Researchers (ECRs) signed up to the Next Generation Design Research workshops. The workshops have been designed to engage with Early Career Design Researchers (ECDRs) whilst providing wider advocacy for UKRI and AHRC programmes and building confidence and skills within the ECDR community. The Next Generation Design Research workshops are half-day workshops that explore the processes involved in applying for an AHRC grant. The workshops are particularly helpful for researchers looking to secure their first AHRC funding grant and for other researchers looking to find out more about the funding schemes offered by the AHRC. To date, I have held 10 Next Generation Design Research workshops at the following HEIs - Cardiff Metropolitan University, UAL:Central Saint Martins, Manchester Metropolitan University, Sheffield Hallam, Glasgow School of Art, Edinburgh University, Royal College of Art, Loughborough University, and Ulster University. Following the success of the AHRC Next Generation Design Research workshops and in response to substantial participant feedback, I designed and developed a second "hands-on" workshop entitled "Writing an AHRC proposal in 2 hours" for Early Career Design Researchers. To date, I have held two workshops - one at the the Royal College of Art on 14 May 2018 and a second workshop at the Sir John Cass School of Art, Architecture and Design (The Cass), London Metropolitan University on 26 November 2018. One more workshop is planned for Ulster University on 30 April 2019. More recently, I have developed a series of new workshop tools specifically for the UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship (FLF) scheme that are aimed at supporting early career design researchers to develop their UKRI FLF application. Four UKRI FLF workshops for design researchers are planned at the 4 doctoral training centres for design - Design Star CDT, University of Reading (19 February 2019), Northumbria-Sunderland CDT (26 March 2019), 3D3, Falmouth University (2 April 2019), and LDoc, Royal College of Art (1 May 2019). The UKRI FLF scheme is open to the best researchers and innovators from around the world, which aims to ensure that the UK continues to attract the most exceptional talent wherever they may come from. Given the rich and lengthy history of design talent in the UK, the UKRI FLF scheme is one that the next generation of design researchers are particularly well suited to. Design researchers and practitioners contribute to a nation's economy, support industrial competitiveness, innovation, knowledge, skills, and social policy. Through collaboration with researchers and practitioners across disciplinary fields, designers generate knowledge which is applied also in other sectors, for instance in healthcare, urban planning, engineering, computing, and business, to name but a few. On the other hand, how design research draws value from other disciplinary fields and at the same time creates value of its own is a critical topic of debate within the academic design community. Furthermore, governments and funding bodies are increasingly concerned with measuring the impact of design research, posing the need for fair, robust and transparent processes for assessing the value of design research. It is often challenging to measure the intangible outcomes of design research in quantitative terms, even because impacts often take a long time to become manifest and may be generated by a multitude of actors. With these challenges in mind, building on different value theories for economics, sustainable development and social sciences, we have contributed an original Design Research Value Model, which enables design researchers, funding bodies and the general public to identify and articulate the significant roles that design research plays in generating social, cultural, economic and environmental value. For the purpose of this journal article, we have applied this 4-leaf model to review a sample of 67 AHRC-funded design research projects that transverse conceptual, disciplinary and methodological boundaries and that represent the breadth and depth of contemporary design research in the UK. The article has revealed that the majority (37%) of the sample of design research projects analysed here contributes to creating social change. Within this context, this means empowering people (especially disadvantaged groups) to gain agency, enhancing the quality of their lives, and improving social wellbeing through better social interactions. Furthermore, it is clear that recent forms of social design research have shifted the focus from individual users towards communities with the aim to generate collective value, fulfil social needs while also triggering new social relationships. In terms of cultural value, 27% of the sample of design research projects contribute to individuals and societies through artistic and cultural practices such as sound art, performance, storytelling, and others. Within the scope of the 67 design research projects analysed here, cultural value refers mainly to heritage as an asset that is getting lost in contemporary culture, and that design research is increasingly concerned with preserving and revitalizing, for instance through undertaking archival studies and developing digital innovations. Over one in five of the 67 design research projects analysed here generates economic value, in terms of employment opportunities in the creative economy, and embedding technological innovations within enterprises and manufacturing businesses. For example, new business opportunities or new business models are generated through knowledge exchange between academic researchers and industries or other types of organisations. Surprisingly, only one of the 67 AHRC-funded design research projects analysed in this journal article is deemed to create environmental value, which here refers to making sustainable use of resources, protecting biodiversity and ecosystems, and adopting production processes that reduce the negative impacts of human activity on the wellbeing of society and the environment. This is a result that design research needs to improve upon quickly and substantially in order to tackle the complex challenges of today's and tomorrow's world. Finally, this work has highlighted that most of the design research projects synergistically create more than one type of value - generating an interesting mix of social, cultural, economic, and environmental value - and has identified lacunae for the design research community to focus on in future years. This work has also been instrumental in the development of the Future Observatory at the Design Museum London - https://designmuseum.org/learning-and-research/design-museum-rd/future-observatory#. The Future Observatory is a new national programme of research, debate and training to investigate how design can drive Britain's future prosperity and support its response to the climate crisis.
First Year Of Impact 2021
Sector Agriculture, Food and Drink,Communities and Social Services/Policy,Construction,Creative Economy,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Education,Energy,Environment,Healthcare,Government, Democracy and Justice,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology
Impact Types Cultural,Societal,Economic,Policy & public services
 
Description AHRC Design Fellowships: Challenges of the Future 2020 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact This workshop with the five short-term AHRC Design Fellowships (Challenges of the Future 2020) is to understand better and demonstrate the values and contributions that university-led Design research makes to the economic and social challenge facing the UK. The five short-term Design Fellowships focus on five themes: (i) Clean Growth/Net Zero; (ii) The Future of Mobility; (iii) AI & data; (iv) Public Services and (v) Place. The five Fellows will produce a comprehensive report on the contribution their theme (university-led Design research) makes to UK society, but also explore the synergies and divisions between the five Design research areas, and Design researchers. The overall aim of the five AHRC Design Fellowships is to create a better understanding of the role of design research in these challenging areas and the economic and social impact of Design research, while also enhancing the funding opportunities available for the discipline. Each Fellow collaborates with an identified Design research centre of excellence where they will track discovery-led Design research projects, through outputs and outcomes, to impact and engagement, innovation and economic, social and behavioural transformation.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description All-Party Parliamentary Design & Innovation Group - Designing Information for Public Understanding 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact On Monday 5th February 2018, the All-Party Parliamentary Design and Innovation Group and the Centre for Information Design Research at the University of Reading hosted a panel discussion and parliamentary reception to discuss developments in Design for Public Understanding.

Held in the Macmillian Room at the heart of the Parliamentary Estate, the panel members were joined by a packed audience of over seventy academics, parliamentarians and policy makers to examine how information design can improve way-finding, the built environment and accessibility for the general public.

The evening was hosted by Lord Waldegrave of North Hill, Chancellor of the University of Reading, who opened the event by discussing the history of the CIDR. a research centre which focuses on the theory and practice of designing complex information. The Centre's work brings together expertise in writing, graphic design, interaction design and psychology. CIDR collaborate with domain experts, such as doctors and public health specialists, educationists, lawyers, and meteorologists. Multidisciplinary working of this kind is the basis for extracting generalisations from individual projects that contribute to a growing understanding of the theory of information design.

The panel discussion was hosted by Barry Sheerman MP, Co-Chair of the APDIG and brought together four senior figures specialising in the subject:

Professor Rachel Cooper OBE: Distinguished Professor of Design Management and Policy, Lancaster University
Professor Paul Rodgers: AHRC Design Leadership Fellow and Professor of Design, Lancaster University
Erik Spiekermann: Internationally renowned information designer, type designer and author
Professor Alison Black: Director of Centre for Information Design Research

The panel discussion was followed by a presentation from Dear How To - a small team of recent graduates who work in the field of textless communication.

The event concluded with an informal drinks reception.

The matters discussed by the panel will be developed into a term paper, which will be circulated to all attendees to discuss how Government can continue to lead on this growing sector of the wider design economy.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.policyconnect.org.uk/apdig/news/designing-information-public-understanding
 
Description CHEAD Research Alliance Symposium, Wednesday 7th March 2018 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact I presented my AHRC Design Leadership Fellowship work to the CHEAD Research Alliance. The CHEAD Research Alliance is responsible for advising and supporting the CHEAD Executive on all research issues, identifying key issues and providing intelligence, disseminating policy updates and submitting policy responses on behalf of the Alliance, supporting research leadership and developing activities and resources to support researchers in the sector, and providing advocacy within CHEAD's networks.

The CHEAD Research Strategy Group, made up of senior ADM research leaders and REF Panellists, meets regularly to serve the wider CHEAD Research Alliance, see the CHEAD Research Alliance Terms of Reference. The CHEAD Research Alliance holds regular events for members of the network throughout the year.

This symposium brought together members of the CHEAD Research Alliance to hear talks from research leaders in the museums, exhibition and curation of art and design fields and to explore the key challenges and opportunities facing these interconnected disciplines. The themes discussed covered museums partnering with universities and the research impact agenda, public engagement, connections with industry, skills development and case studies of exhibition and curatorial practice as research.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://chead.ac.uk/event/next-generation-design-leadership/
 
Description Council for Higher Education in Art and Design (CHEAD) Research Alliance Symposium: Next Generation Design Leadership 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The Council for Higher Education in Art and Design (CHEAD) Research Alliance Symposium entitled "Next Generation Design Leadership" was held at Derby University on March 7 2018 @ 9:30 am - 1:30 pm.

The Council for Higher Education in Art and Design (CHEAD) Research Alliance Symposium included the following speakers:
Prof Martyn Evans, Professor of Design, Head of Manchester School of Art Research Centre, Manchester School of Art
Professor Sandy Black, Professor of Fashion & Textile Design & Technology, London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London
Professor David Swann, Professor in Design, Sheffield Hallam University
The CHEAD Research Alliance Symposium entitled "Next Generation Design Leadership" also included a presentation from the AHRC Design Leadership Fellow, Professor Paul Rodgers. The Symposium explored a range of issues surrounding applied and academic design research in the UK and included an audience of senior UK Universities and Art and Design College members from across the UK.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://chead.ac.uk/event/next-generation-design-leadership/
 
Description Design Museum Future Tank Initiative 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact As the AHRC Design Leadership Fellow, I was invited to take part in a closed roundtable discussion about a new initiative the Design Museum, London is preparing to launch.
At a moment of unprecedented change, the Design Museum, London are only too conscious of the challenges this country faces in the near future. The nation's economic stability will depend on keeping up with a rapidly changing landscape of technological change, climate change and an ageing population. We believe that design has a crucial role to play in harnessing the potential of technological innovation. We also believe that museums are increasingly places where we can stimulate alternative futures. As such, we propose to establish what we are calling a Future Tank (working title) at the Design Museum, London with precisely that purpose.
Our idea is to create a dedicated programme in which we can connect innovators, designers and policy makers to address a set of key issues that will define the future, from ageing to urbanisation, automation, mobility and manufacturing. Through dedicated exhibitions and a pubic programme, the Future Tank aims to help drive the next industrial revolution and anticipate the social and civic changes that will accompany it.
We would like your help in giving this initiative the right shape and direction. We are inviting a small group of individuals with a range of institutional, business and innovation acumen to be critical friends, if you will, and to discuss this with us in a roundtable format.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Design Research Society Keynote Debate, 26 June 2018 - Design Research and Industry Impacts 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact I was invited by the Design Research Society (DRS) to participate in a Keynote Debate at the DRS International Conference on 26 June 2018. The subject of the keynote debate was the relationship between design research and industry impacts - exploring the changing nature of design research and practice within academia and industry.

The debate, with an audience of over 500 delegates from all over the world, explored how design is moving beyond merely being an instrumentalised tool for industry, and becoming an altruistic agent for, and of, change as well as a force for social innovation.

The debate also asked if the role of design research, and design researchers within this 'world beyond' is prompting a change of perspective from both academia and industry and if a new generation of designers are challenging the evolving role, and nature, of design research for both practice and industry; questioning whether design research is a tool for industry or an agent for social and cultural change, or if it can be both.

This debate explored the changing nature and context of design research and practice, pointing toward the implications of this change for realising impact. What is needed to support these new design research principles and emergent practices, and how design researchers can pursue new impactful research pathways that truly engage wider society.

With multinationals opening design-led, multidisciplinary R&D hubs to explore how digital and emerging technologies transform businesses and society, does academia need to look at how education can engage more collaboratively with industry-led research to make innovation real?

Impact has always been a consideration for design researchers, but it is only recently that a more explicit and systemic monitoring and measuring of impact has emerged - due to the economic downturn the impact of design research, and in particular government funded research, has come under increased scrutiny. Can we develop ways of measuring the value and impact of research within the design process, and successfully demonstrate economic, societal, healthcare, environmental and political impact?

Designers are increasingly working collaboratively, in a research-led way, on trans-disciplinary projects. Designers are advocating and lobbying for change, linking with social and political processes and documenting and sharing best practice. How we can the design eco-system support the development of design-led research communities that collaborate, co-generate knowledge and achieve collective impact on complex issues?
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL http://www.drs2018limerick.org/participation/keynote-debates
 
Description Design Research for Change Symposium 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Twenty-one design researchers from countries all over the world presented their state-of-the-art research in the Design Research for Change (DR4C) Symposium at the Design Museum, London over two days (Wednesday 11 and Thursday 12 December 2019). The DR4C Symposium included papers and presentations that examine and explore how contemporary forms of design research are increasingly involved in a range of major social, cultural, economic, and environmental challenges. The research presented and published in the accompanying DR4C book highlights a variety of significant roles that design researchers play in some of the most complex and demanding issues we face, such as energy and the environment, education, public services, health and social care both in the UK and globally. This rich set of presentations and papers are the end result of a lengthy process that began with an amazing response to the call-for-papers for the Design Research for Change (DR4C) symposium. 62 papers from researchers based in countries all over the world including Australia, USA, India, China, Sweden, Germany, Italy, Norway, Denmark, Israel, Greece, Turkey and the UK. After a thorough review process, twenty-one papers were accepted for the DR4C book and presentation in a single-track session over the course of two days at the Design Museum, London on 11 and 12 December 2019 in front of an audience of 200 people from design academia, industry, and other relevant agencies and organisations.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://www.designresearchforchange.co.uk
 
Description Designed with Dementia... 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Patients, carers and/or patient groups
Results and Impact Designed With Me is a design intervention that makes use of the latent creative abilities of people living with dementia. Designed With Me adopts a co-design approach where people living with dementia are highly valued and their inputs and collaborations are held in the same esteem as any other collaborator. Designed With Me focuses on the empowerment and inclusion of people living with dementia, along with dementia support workers, carers and the general public, to inform, influence and change prevailing attitudes and assumptions surrounding dementia. During the Designed With Me process, all participants become co-designers helping to propose possibilities, choose solutions, provide services and "make things happen".
During Lancaster University's Campus in the City event, Designed With Me will encourage people living with dementia to come and explore designing and making first-hand in the Campus in the City shop. Participants will design and make a range of soft furnishing designs depicting images of famous local people and/or well-known landmarks (e.g. Eric Morecambe, Lancaster Castle). Alongside the design and make workshop, visitors will be able to view a range of fabrics and products created in earlier Designed With Me events. These Designed With Me textiles were all co-designed with people living with dementia and have been developed into a range of products by the same people. The outcomes of the Designed With Me event will form a public exhibition that helps to highlight the creative potential of people living with dementia and how their outputs can be designed into real commercial products.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://designdisruptiongroup.wordpress.com
 
Description Designing Information for Public Understanding 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The aim of the event is to draw attention to the role of design in making complex information clear, with the needs of users at the core. And in particular to draw this potential to the attention of parliamentarians and civil servants concerned with getting messages across and encouraging behavioural change. Information design may use words or pictures, on paper, digital devices or public information displays, such as directional signs. Designers consider theselection and presentation of the information provider's message in relation to the purposes, skills, experience, preferences and circumstances of the intended users. Through user-centred methods, they elicit users' information needs and test design proposals to ensure effective information provision. Organisations stand to benefit from design that communicates messages clearly to their members or consumers. Failures in information design may incur costs due, for example, to forms that are completed incorrectly or are laborious to process; instructions that cause frustration, even danger, and that may damage the reputation of the provider; or websites or smartphone apps that are difficult to navigate, miscue interactions and lead their users to seek phone or face-to-face interactions to get the service they need. Our panellists will talk about the role and potential of information design in making everyday life easier for people, and will stress the role of the end-user as a key stakeholder in the process of designing effective material. To support the panel discussion, attendees will be able to view the latest, comprehensive compilation of research and practice in information design in our edited book Information design: research and practice which affirms its relevance as a discipline. Many of the book's authors will attend, so there will be opportunity to engage in discussion with them.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL http://www.policyconnect.org.uk
 
Description Does Design Care...? 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Does Design Care? is a workshop/seminar for academics and practitioners from various disciplines at any level of experience who are involved and/or interested in the gesture and/or practice of "Care" at large. In the autumn of 2017, the first Does Design Care? workshop took place at Imagination, Lancaster University, UK. Agroup of 28 researchers and practitioners from 16 nations across 5 continents discussed, acted and reflected upon "Care". These activities led to the collaborative essay - The Lancaster Care Charter, published recently in Design Issues, which was written in response to the vital question "Does Design Care?" Via a series of conversations, stimulated by a range of presentations that explored a range of provocations, insights and more questions, the group provided answers for the contemporary context of Care, "The Lancaster Care Charter" presents a collective vision and sets out new pragmatic encounters for the design of Care and the care of Design. Following on from this hugely successful international Does Design Care? workshop, we wish to extend the conversations, presentations, insights, more questions and are now ready for the second act of our long and difficult journey towards a better understanding and future visions of what Care is and could be.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://www.designresearchforchange.co.uk/does-design-care-2/
 
Description Does Design Care...? An International Workshop of Design Thought and Action 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Does Design Care...?, an International Workshop of Design Thought and Action, involved researchers and practitioners across a wide range of disciplines to attend and contribute to a 2-day workshop at Imagination, Lancaster University, UK on 12 and 13 September 2017. This thinking, making and doing workshop explored different ways to explore, conceptualise, provoke, contest and disrupt Care, which will serve as a venue for synthesising future visions of care. We encourage both inexperienced and experienced researchers, novices and experts, and practitioners involved in and/or interested in care to submit initially a short position paper. In your initial position paper (1 page maximum), we ask you to select and tackle one of these problems with care (see below) and make some sort of careful proposal. Does Design Care...? saw workshop participants from an international community with some attendees travelling from as far as the USA, New Zealand, Australia, China, Israel and Japan. The workshop delegates all contributed to the writing of a publication entitled "The Lancaster Care Charter", which has recently been accepted for publication in the leading design journal - Design Issues.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL https://www.designresearchforchange.co.uk/workshop-does-design-care/
 
Description How to Write an AHRC Research Proposal in 2 Hours... Workshop - Royal College of Art, 14 May 2018 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Following the success of the AHRC Next Generation Design Research workshops and in response to substantial participant feedback, we designed and developed a second "hands-on" workshop entitled "Writing an AHRC proposal in 2 hours" for Early Career Design Researchers.
The feedback from the attendees in the first series of workshops revealed a knowledge gap and demand for support in writing and structuring an AHRC Design research proposal. Individuals from the AHRC and experienced design researchers attended the "Writing an AHRC proposal in 2 hours" workshops to offer support and expert feedback.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.designresearchforchange.co.uk/ahrc-next-generation-design-research-workshops/
 
Description How to Write an AHRC Research Proposal in 2 Hours... Workshop - The Sir John Cass School of Art, Architecture and Design (The Cass), London Metropolitan University, 26 Nov 2018 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Following the success of the AHRC Next Generation Design Research workshops and in response to substantial participant feedback, we designed and developed a second "hands-on" workshop entitled "Writing an AHRC proposal in 2 hours" for Early Career Design Researchers.
The feedback from the attendees in the first series of workshops revealed a knowledge gap and demand for support in writing and structuring an AHRC Design research proposal. Individuals from the AHRC and experienced design researchers attended the "Writing an AHRC proposal in 2 hours" workshops to offer support and expert feedback.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.designresearchforchange.co.uk/ahrc-next-generation-design-research-workshops/
 
Description How to Write an AHRC Research Proposal in 2 Hours... Workshop - Ulster University, 30 April 2019 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Following the success of the AHRC Next Generation Design Research workshops and in response to substantial participant feedback, we designed and developed a second "hands-on" workshop entitled "Writing an AHRC proposal in 2 hours" for Early Career Design Researchers.
The feedback from the attendees in the first series of workshops revealed a knowledge gap and demand for support in writing and structuring an AHRC Design research proposal. Individuals from the AHRC and experienced design researchers attended the "Writing an AHRC proposal in 2 hours" workshops to offer support and expert feedback.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://www.designresearchforchange.co.uk/ahrc-next-generation-design-research-workshops/
 
Description Loughborough Design School Leadership Summit 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact This invitation only event (Loughborough Design School Leadership Summit) brought together leading thinkers from academia and business over two days to examine the progress, challenges and opportunities for the role of Experience Design in shaping our future. The summit embraces "Experience Design" in its widest possible sense, encompassing technologies, products, services, systems, environments and policy. I was invited to the event based on my academic profile and expertise within the broad field of experience design. The Loughborough Design School Leadership Summit included around 20 invited leading thinkers (external) discussing the future of experience design over two days with Loughborough Design School staff (internal).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/design-school/ls/experience-design/
 
Description Next Generation Design Research Workshop - Cardiff 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The Next Generation Design Research workshops are half-day workshops that will explore the processes involved in applying for an AHRC grant. The workshops will be particularly helpful for researchers looking to secure their first AHRC funding grant and for other researchers looking to find out more about the funding schemes offered by the AHRC. The Next Generation Design Research workshops have been designed to help you to understand what the AHRC currently funds and how to best prepare your AHRC funding application. On the day, there will be opportunities to meet with past and present AHRC design research award holders and network with other researchers. The workshop will include a briefing from the AHRC Design Leadership Fellow, Professor Paul Rodgers, presentations from successful AHRC design research award holders, a research support office presentation, a presentation from Harry Kerr (Portfolio Manager, Creative Arts and Digital Humanities at the AHRC), a Q & A session and networking. In total over 600 Early Career Design Researchers (ECDRs) attended one of the 8 Next Generation Design Research workshops held across the UK between December 2017 and February 2018. Given the amazing response to the Next Generation Design Research workshops, we have made plans for 2 future Next Generation Design Research workshops at the Royal College of Art, London and Ulster University in the near future. The Next Generation Design Research workshops are for Prospective design research academic leads from universities and IROs and Early career design researchers (in particular). Attending a Next Generation Design Research workshop will get you inspired and learn how to create proposals with impact, you will meet members of the AHRC team and can ask them about funding and application processes, and meet and network with potential research partners.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://www.designresearchforchange.co.uk
 
Description Next Generation Design Research Workshop - Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh University 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The Next Generation Design Research workshops are half-day workshops that will explore the processes involved in applying for an AHRC grant. The workshops will be particularly helpful for researchers looking to secure their first AHRC funding grant and for other researchers looking to find out more about the funding schemes offered by the AHRC. The Next Generation Design Research workshops have been designed to help you to understand what the AHRC currently funds and how to best prepare your AHRC funding application. On the day, there will be opportunities to meet with past and present AHRC design research award holders and network with other researchers. The workshop will include a briefing from the AHRC Design Leadership Fellow, Professor Paul Rodgers, presentations from successful AHRC design research award holders, a research support office presentation, a presentation from Harry Kerr (Portfolio Manager, Creative Arts and Digital Humanities at the AHRC), a Q & A session and networking. In total over 600 Early Career Design Researchers (ECDRs) attended one of the 8 Next Generation Design Research workshops held across the UK between December 2017 and February 2018. Given the amazing response to the Next Generation Design Research workshops, we have made plans for 2 future Next Generation Design Research workshops at the Royal College of Art, London and Ulster University in the near future. The Next Generation Design Research workshops are for Prospective design research academic leads from universities and IROs and Early career design researchers (in particular). Attending a Next Generation Design Research workshop will get you inspired and learn how to create proposals with impact, you will meet members of the AHRC team and can ask them about funding and application processes, and meet and network with potential research partners.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.designresearchforchange.co.uk/ahrc-next-generation-design-research-workshops/
 
Description Next Generation Design Research Workshop - Glasgow School of Art 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The Next Generation Design Research workshops are half-day workshops that will explore the processes involved in applying for an AHRC grant. The workshops will be particularly helpful for researchers looking to secure their first AHRC funding grant and for other researchers looking to find out more about the funding schemes offered by the AHRC. The Next Generation Design Research workshops have been designed to help you to understand what the AHRC currently funds and how to best prepare your AHRC funding application. On the day, there will be opportunities to meet with past and present AHRC design research award holders and network with other researchers. The workshop will include a briefing from the AHRC Design Leadership Fellow, Professor Paul Rodgers, presentations from successful AHRC design research award holders, a research support office presentation, a presentation from Harry Kerr (Portfolio Manager, Creative Arts and Digital Humanities at the AHRC), a Q & A session and networking. In total over 600 Early Career Design Researchers (ECDRs) attended one of the 8 Next Generation Design Research workshops held across the UK between December 2017 and February 2018. Given the amazing response to the Next Generation Design Research workshops, we have made plans for 2 future Next Generation Design Research workshops at the Royal College of Art, London and Ulster University in the near future. The Next Generation Design Research workshops are for Prospective design research academic leads from universities and IROs and Early career design researchers (in particular). Attending a Next Generation Design Research workshop will get you inspired and learn how to create proposals with impact, you will meet members of the AHRC team and can ask them about funding and application processes, and meet and network with potential research partners.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.designresearchforchange.co.uk/ahrc-next-generation-design-research-workshops/
 
Description Next Generation Design Research Workshop - Loughborough University 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The Next Generation Design Research workshops are half-day workshops that will explore the processes involved in applying for an AHRC grant. The workshops will be particularly helpful for researchers looking to secure their first AHRC funding grant and for other researchers looking to find out more about the funding schemes offered by the AHRC. The Next Generation Design Research workshops have been designed to help you to understand what the AHRC currently funds and how to best prepare your AHRC funding application. On the day, there will be opportunities to meet with past and present AHRC design research award holders and network with other researchers. The workshop will include a briefing from the AHRC Design Leadership Fellow, Professor Paul Rodgers, presentations from successful AHRC design research award holders, a research support office presentation, a presentation from Harry Kerr (Portfolio Manager, Creative Arts and Digital Humanities at the AHRC), a Q & A session and networking. In total over 600 Early Career Design Researchers (ECDRs) attended one of the 8 Next Generation Design Research workshops held across the UK between December 2017 and February 2018. Given the amazing response to the Next Generation Design Research workshops, we have made plans for 2 future Next Generation Design Research workshops at the Royal College of Art, London and Ulster University in the near future. The Next Generation Design Research workshops are for Prospective design research academic leads from universities and IROs and Early career design researchers (in particular). Attending a Next Generation Design Research workshop will get you inspired and learn how to create proposals with impact, you will meet members of the AHRC team and can ask them about funding and application processes, and meet and network with potential research partners.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.designresearchforchange.co.uk/ahrc-next-generation-design-research-workshops/
 
Description Next Generation Design Research Workshop - Manchester Metropolitan University 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The Next Generation Design Research workshops are half-day workshops that will explore the processes involved in applying for an AHRC grant. The workshops will be particularly helpful for researchers looking to secure their first AHRC funding grant and for other researchers looking to find out more about the funding schemes offered by the AHRC. The Next Generation Design Research workshops have been designed to help you to understand what the AHRC currently funds and how to best prepare your AHRC funding application. On the day, there will be opportunities to meet with past and present AHRC design research award holders and network with other researchers. The workshop will include a briefing from the AHRC Design Leadership Fellow, Professor Paul Rodgers, presentations from successful AHRC design research award holders, a research support office presentation, a presentation from Harry Kerr (Portfolio Manager, Creative Arts and Digital Humanities at the AHRC), a Q & A session and networking. In total over 600 Early Career Design Researchers (ECDRs) attended one of the 8 Next Generation Design Research workshops held across the UK between December 2017 and February 2018. Given the amazing response to the Next Generation Design Research workshops, we have made plans for 2 future Next Generation Design Research workshops at the Royal College of Art, London and Ulster University in the near future. The Next Generation Design Research workshops are for Prospective design research academic leads from universities and IROs and Early career design researchers (in particular). Attending a Next Generation Design Research workshop will get you inspired and learn how to create proposals with impact, you will meet members of the AHRC team and can ask them about funding and application processes, and meet and network with potential research partners.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.designresearchforchange.co.uk/ahrc-next-generation-design-research-workshops/
 
Description Next Generation Design Research Workshop - Royal College of Art [2], 14 May 2018 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The Next Generation Design Research workshops are half-day workshops that will explore the processes involved in applying for an AHRC grant. The workshops will be particularly helpful for researchers looking to secure their first AHRC funding grant and for other researchers looking to find out more about the funding schemes offered by the AHRC. The Next Generation Design Research workshops have been designed to help you to understand what the AHRC currently funds and how to best prepare your AHRC funding application. On the day, there will be opportunities to meet with past and present AHRC design research award holders and network with other researchers. The workshop will include a briefing from the AHRC Design Leadership Fellow, Professor Paul Rodgers, presentations from successful AHRC design research award holders, a research support office presentation, a presentation from Harry Kerr (Portfolio Manager, Creative Arts and Digital Humanities at the AHRC), a Q & A session and networking. In total over 800 Early Career Design Researchers (ECDRs) attended one of the 10 Next Generation Design Research workshops held across the UK between December 2017 and February 2018. Given the amazing response to the Next Generation Design Research workshops, we have made plans for 2 future Next Generation Design Research workshops at the Royal College of Art, London and Ulster University in the near future. The Next Generation Design Research workshops are for Prospective design research academic leads from universities and IROs and Early career design researchers (in particular). Attending a Next Generation Design Research workshop will get you inspired and learn how to create proposals with impact, you will meet members of the AHRC team and can ask them about funding and application processes, and meet and network with potential research partners.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.designresearchforchange.co.uk/ahrc-next-generation-design-research-workshops/
 
Description Next Generation Design Research Workshop - Royal College of Art, London 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The Next Generation Design Research workshops are half-day workshops that will explore the processes involved in applying for an AHRC grant. The workshops will be particularly helpful for researchers looking to secure their first AHRC funding grant and for other researchers looking to find out more about the funding schemes offered by the AHRC. The Next Generation Design Research workshops have been designed to help you to understand what the AHRC currently funds and how to best prepare your AHRC funding application. On the day, there will be opportunities to meet with past and present AHRC design research award holders and network with other researchers. The workshop will include a briefing from the AHRC Design Leadership Fellow, Professor Paul Rodgers, presentations from successful AHRC design research award holders, a research support office presentation, a presentation from Harry Kerr (Portfolio Manager, Creative Arts and Digital Humanities at the AHRC), a Q & A session and networking. In total over 600 Early Career Design Researchers (ECDRs) attended one of the 8 Next Generation Design Research workshops held across the UK between December 2017 and February 2018. Given the amazing response to the Next Generation Design Research workshops, we have made plans for 2 future Next Generation Design Research workshops at the Royal College of Art, London and Ulster University in the near future. The Next Generation Design Research workshops are for Prospective design research academic leads from universities and IROs and Early career design researchers (in particular). Attending a Next Generation Design Research workshop will get you inspired and learn how to create proposals with impact, you will meet members of the AHRC team and can ask them about funding and application processes, and meet and network with potential research partners.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.designresearchforchange.co.uk/ahrc-next-generation-design-research-workshops/
 
Description Next Generation Design Research Workshop - Sheffield Hallam University 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The Next Generation Design Research workshops are half-day workshops that will explore the processes involved in applying for an AHRC grant. The workshops will be particularly helpful for researchers looking to secure their first AHRC funding grant and for other researchers looking to find out more about the funding schemes offered by the AHRC. The Next Generation Design Research workshops have been designed to help you to understand what the AHRC currently funds and how to best prepare your AHRC funding application. On the day, there will be opportunities to meet with past and present AHRC design research award holders and network with other researchers. The workshop will include a briefing from the AHRC Design Leadership Fellow, Professor Paul Rodgers, presentations from successful AHRC design research award holders, a research support office presentation, a presentation from Harry Kerr (Portfolio Manager, Creative Arts and Digital Humanities at the AHRC), a Q & A session and networking. In total over 600 Early Career Design Researchers (ECDRs) attended one of the 8 Next Generation Design Research workshops held across the UK between December 2017 and February 2018. Given the amazing response to the Next Generation Design Research workshops, we have made plans for 2 future Next Generation Design Research workshops at the Royal College of Art, London and Ulster University in the near future. The Next Generation Design Research workshops are for Prospective design research academic leads from universities and IROs and Early career design researchers (in particular). Attending a Next Generation Design Research workshop will get you inspired and learn how to create proposals with impact, you will meet members of the AHRC team and can ask them about funding and application processes, and meet and network with potential research partners.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.designresearchforchange.co.uk/ahrc-next-generation-design-research-workshops/
 
Description Next Generation Design Research Workshop - Ulster University, 23 April 2018 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The Next Generation Design Research workshops are half-day workshops that will explore the processes involved in applying for an AHRC grant. The workshops will be particularly helpful for researchers looking to secure their first AHRC funding grant and for other researchers looking to find out more about the funding schemes offered by the AHRC. The Next Generation Design Research workshops have been designed to help you to understand what the AHRC currently funds and how to best prepare your AHRC funding application. On the day, there will be opportunities to meet with past and present AHRC design research award holders and network with other researchers. The workshop will include a briefing from the AHRC Design Leadership Fellow, Professor Paul Rodgers, presentations from successful AHRC design research award holders, a research support office presentation, a presentation from Harry Kerr (Portfolio Manager, Creative Arts and Digital Humanities at the AHRC), a Q & A session and networking. In total over 600 Early Career Design Researchers (ECDRs) attended one of the 8 Next Generation Design Research workshops held across the UK between December 2017 and February 2018. Given the amazing response to the Next Generation Design Research workshops, we have made plans for 2 future Next Generation Design Research workshops at the Royal College of Art, London and Ulster University in the near future. The Next Generation Design Research workshops are for Prospective design research academic leads from universities and IROs and Early career design researchers (in particular). Attending a Next Generation Design Research workshop will get you inspired and learn how to create proposals with impact, you will meet members of the AHRC team and can ask them about funding and application processes, and meet and network with potential research partners.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.designresearchforchange.co.uk/ahrc-next-generation-design-research-workshops/
 
Description Next Generation Design Research Workshop - University of the Arts, London, Central St. Martins 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The Next Generation Design Research workshops are half-day workshops that will explore the processes involved in applying for an AHRC grant. The workshops will be particularly helpful for researchers looking to secure their first AHRC funding grant and for other researchers looking to find out more about the funding schemes offered by the AHRC. The Next Generation Design Research workshops have been designed to help you to understand what the AHRC currently funds and how to best prepare your AHRC funding application. On the day, there will be opportunities to meet with past and present AHRC design research award holders and network with other researchers. The workshop will include a briefing from the AHRC Design Leadership Fellow, Professor Paul Rodgers, presentations from successful AHRC design research award holders, a research support office presentation, a presentation from Harry Kerr (Portfolio Manager, Creative Arts and Digital Humanities at the AHRC), a Q & A session and networking. In total over 600 Early Career Design Researchers (ECDRs) attended one of the 8 Next Generation Design Research workshops held across the UK between December 2017 and February 2018. Given the amazing response to the Next Generation Design Research workshops, we have made plans for 2 future Next Generation Design Research workshops at the Royal College of Art, London and Ulster University in the near future. The Next Generation Design Research workshops are for Prospective design research academic leads from universities and IROs and Early career design researchers (in particular). Attending a Next Generation Design Research workshop will get you inspired and learn how to create proposals with impact, you will meet members of the AHRC team and can ask them about funding and application processes, and meet and network with potential research partners.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL https://www.designresearchforchange.co.uk/ahrc-next-generation-design-research-workshops/
 
Description Professor Paul Rodgers Public Lecture, University of Wolverhampton, Centre for Art, Design, Research and Experimentation: Material and Theoretical Practise 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact I was invited to give a Public Lecture on my design research including my current AHRC Design Leadership Fellowship at the University of Wolverhampton, Centre for Art, Design, Research and Experimentation: Material and Theoretical Practise. Audience members comprised staff and students from the University of Wolverhampton and other external organisations and institutions. The lecture initiated further questions and discussions surrounding design research in the UK.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL https://www.wlv.ac.uk/media/departments/research/documents/Research-Student-Almanac-16-17-(Sem2).pdf
 
Description THIS WAY UP Public and Collaborative Lecture Series - Lecture 11 "Design for Good..." Lecture by Paul Rodgers 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact I was invited to give a lecture on my AHRC Design Leadership Fellowship for the THIS WAY UP Public and Collaborative Lecture Series - Lecture 11. My lecture entitled "Design for Good..." outlined my role as the AHRC Design Leadership Fellow, which aims to develop the design research area to be inclusive in its scope and encourage projects that adopt and utilise a mélange of different types of design research including experimental, practice-based, and hybrid approaches and methods. The lecture also outlined design's role in society at large and how design research can play a key role in a transformational shift in the focus, quality and impact of research that will leave a legacy of evidence and examples, and a bolder, stronger interdisciplinary design community with a new generation of early career researchers engaging with a "Design for Change" agenda.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://events.arts.ac.uk/event/2017/3/13/Design-for-Good-Lecture-by-Paul-Rodgers/
 
Description UKRI Future [DESIGN] Leaders Fellowship Application Writing Workshops - 3D3 CDT, Falmouth University, 2 April 2019 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact UKRI Future [DESIGN] Leaders Fellowship Application Writing Workshops
The UK Research and Innovation Future Leaders Fellowships (FLF) will grow the strong supply of talented individuals needed to ensure that UK research and innovation continues to be world class. The UKRI FLF scheme is new and is open to businesses, as well as universities and other research and user environments (including Research Councils' institutes and laboratories). The UKRI FLF scheme is open to the best researchers and innovators from around the world, which aims to ensure that the UK continues to attract the most exceptional talent wherever they may come from. Given the rich and lengthy history of design talent in the UK, the UKRI FLF scheme is one that the next generation of design researchers are particularly well suited to. We have, therefore, developed new workshop tools specifically for this scheme that are aimed at supporting early career design researchers to develop their UKRI FLF application. Four UKRI FLF workshops for design researchers are planned at the 4 doctoral training centres outlined below.

Design Star CDT, University of Reading, 19 February 2019
Northumbria-Sunderland CDT, 26 March 2019
3D3 CDT, Falmouth University, 2 April 2019
LDoc CDT, Royal College of Art, 1 May 2019
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://www.designresearchforchange.co.uk/ukri-design-future-leaders-fellowship-workshop/
 
Description UKRI Future [DESIGN] Leaders Fellowship Application Writing Workshops - Design Star CDT, University of Reading, 19 February 2019 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact UKRI Future [DESIGN] Leaders Fellowship Application Writing Workshops
The UK Research and Innovation Future Leaders Fellowships (FLF) will grow the strong supply of talented individuals needed to ensure that UK research and innovation continues to be world class. The UKRI FLF scheme is new and is open to businesses, as well as universities and other research and user environments (including Research Councils' institutes and laboratories). The UKRI FLF scheme is open to the best researchers and innovators from around the world, which aims to ensure that the UK continues to attract the most exceptional talent wherever they may come from. Given the rich and lengthy history of design talent in the UK, the UKRI FLF scheme is one that the next generation of design researchers are particularly well suited to. We have, therefore, developed new workshop tools specifically for this scheme that are aimed at supporting early career design researchers to develop their UKRI FLF application. Four UKRI FLF workshops for design researchers are planned at the 4 doctoral training centres outlined below.

Design Star CDT, University of Reading, 19 February 2019
Northumbria-Sunderland CDT, 26 March 2019
3d3 CDT, Falmouth University, 02 Apr 2019
LDoc CDT, Royal College of Art, 01 May 2019
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://www.designresearchforchange.co.uk/ukri-design-future-leaders-fellowship-workshop/
 
Description UKRI Future [DESIGN] Leaders Fellowship Application Writing Workshops - LDoc CDT, Royal College of Art, 1 May 2019 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact UKRI Future [DESIGN] Leaders Fellowship Application Writing Workshops
The UK Research and Innovation Future Leaders Fellowships (FLF) will grow the strong supply of talented individuals needed to ensure that UK research and innovation continues to be world class. The UKRI FLF scheme is new and is open to businesses, as well as universities and other research and user environments (including Research Councils' institutes and laboratories). The UKRI FLF scheme is open to the best researchers and innovators from around the world, which aims to ensure that the UK continues to attract the most exceptional talent wherever they may come from. Given the rich and lengthy history of design talent in the UK, the UKRI FLF scheme is one that the next generation of design researchers are particularly well suited to. We have, therefore, developed new workshop tools specifically for this scheme that are aimed at supporting early career design researchers to develop their UKRI FLF application. Four UKRI FLF workshops for design researchers are planned at the 4 doctoral training centres outlined below.

Design Star CDT, University of Reading, 19 February 2019
Northumbria-Sunderland CDT, 26 March 2019
3D3 CDT, Falmouth University, 2 April 2019
LDoc CDT, Royal College of Art, 1 May 2019
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://www.designresearchforchange.co.uk/ukri-design-future-leaders-fellowship-workshop/
 
Description UKRI Future [DESIGN] Leaders Fellowship Application Writing Workshops - Northumbria-Sunderland CDT, 26 March 2019 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact UKRI Future [DESIGN] Leaders Fellowship Application Writing Workshops
The UK Research and Innovation Future Leaders Fellowships (FLF) will grow the strong supply of talented individuals needed to ensure that UK research and innovation continues to be world class. The UKRI FLF scheme is new and is open to businesses, as well as universities and other research and user environments (including Research Councils' institutes and laboratories). The UKRI FLF scheme is open to the best researchers and innovators from around the world, which aims to ensure that the UK continues to attract the most exceptional talent wherever they may come from. Given the rich and lengthy history of design talent in the UK, the UKRI FLF scheme is one that the next generation of design researchers are particularly well suited to. We have, therefore, developed new workshop tools specifically for this scheme that are aimed at supporting early career design researchers to develop their UKRI FLF application. Four UKRI FLF workshops for design researchers are planned at the 4 doctoral training centres outlined below.

Design Star CDT, University of Reading, 19 February 2019
Northumbria-Sunderland CDT, 26 March 2019
3D3 CDT, Falmouth University, 2 April 2019
LDoc CDT, Royal College of Art, 1 May 2019
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://www.designresearchforchange.co.uk/ukri-design-future-leaders-fellowship-workshop/
 
Description UKRI Future [DESIGN] Leaders Fellowship Workshop - AHRC, Polaris House, 15 July 2019 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact This UKRI Future [DESIGN] Leaders Fellowship Workshop, organised to support the growth of the strong supply of talented individuals needed to ensure that UK research and innovation continues to be world class, was held with Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) research officers. This workshop developed new workshop tools specifically for the UKRI FLF scheme that are aimed at supporting early career design researchers to develop their UKRI FLF application. Four UKRI FLF workshops for design researchers were held at the 4 doctoral training centres - Design Star CDT, University of Reading, 19 February 2019, Northumbria-Sunderland CDT, 26 March 2019, 3D3 CDT, Falmouth University, 2 April 2019, and LDoc CDT, Royal College of Art, 1 May 2019. The tools were tested with the AHRC research staff and found to be very successful.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://www.designresearchforchange.co.uk/ukri-design-future-leaders-fellowship-workshop/
 
Description Well-Making: Co-building Pathways for Empathy 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Well-Making: Co-building Pathways for Empathy, Dale Room, Wellcome Trust, London, Monday 20 November 2017
I presented my AHRC Design Leadership Fellowship work at this event. In particular, I presented findings from the Design Research Landscape Survey that included responses from nearly 300 design researchers across the UK.
This one-day interactive workshop explores new research on inclusive design and empathy with a particular focus on how maker spaces might be better understood as 'well-making spaces': spaces that promote health and wellbeing. The event will include a keynote by Professor Lizbeth Goodman, Chair of Creative Technology Innovation at University College Dublin, founder/director of the SMARTlab and MAGIC (Multimedia and Games Innovation Centre) about her current European Horizon 2020 project. Professor Goodman has worked at the intersection of community co-design for creativity and social inclusion, assistive technologies and empathetic education strategies, and maker culture for decades. Her current work focuses on digital materialisation of 3D visualisations made by as well as for people with diverse abilities and differences.
We are particularly interested in imagining spaces, material and otherwise, that promote well-making and thinking about the particular values of specific maker activities/skills/techniques/communities. The event will include presentations, discussion and break-out groups, the demonstration and testing of well-making methods, and prototyping well-making/empathy tools that might be applied in a range of 'well-maker spaces': community venues, hospitals, online, educational environments, health settings, makerspaces, homes.
This event is by invitation only and is part of a Catalyst project funded by the Arts & Humanities Research Council to network, promote and disseminate research in this area.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://smartlab-ie.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Wellcome.pdf