The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) has joined forces with the Design Council to determine the future directions for design research, including funding models.
Together the two councils have launched a scoping exercise to investigate the question: What research is needed for measuring the role and value of design? The study will focus on key disciplines including architecture; engineering design; product design; communications and service design, and a consultation has been launched on future design-research needs, which is open until 18 April.
Scoping study to inform future design research direction and funding
Design Council and AHRC believe that design plays a key role in economic and social value creation. Design is key to connecting Research and Development efforts with innovation, enabling the market implementation of new knowledge that is fundamental to delivering economic growth and contributing to social renewal. The AHRC’s Delivery Plan for 2011-15 highlights support for research in design as one of its strategic priorities.In order to promote the use of design, to explore new directions for academic design research and its engagement with business, and to maximise the contribution that design can make to the economy and society, Design Council and AHRC believe that a more sophisticated understanding is needed of the use and value of design and the current state of design research and business engagement.
Coming together as partners, AHRC and the Design Council wish to build on previous work to develop better and more detailed understanding and evidence about the value and the economic and broader impact of design, its contribution to the creative sector and innovation eco-system, the connections between design practice and academic design research, and levels of engagement between design research and business. To that end, we are currently conducting a scoping study to answer this key question:
What research is needed for measuring the role and value of design?
This includes looking at what already exists, and thinking about the audiences and purposes of new academic design research. Madano Partnership are conducting this work on behalf of Design Council and AHRC.
Consultation
As part of this work, we are seeking to consult widely about future design research needs. We are sharing our views to date and posing some questions for consultation. You can read our thinking so far (pdf – opens in a new website) and use the form below to submit your thoughts until the end of the day on 18 April.
Following the close of this consultation on 18 April, Madano Partnership will be completing the project and reporting back to the Design Council and AHRC by mid-May. The Design Council and AHRC will keep you informed with developments after that date.
Future directions for academic design research
We’d like to know more about your views on future design research needs, and about the audiences and purposes of new academic design research. Take part in our consultation.
Questions in the consultation include whether a future design programme should target research aimed at boosting “interaction” between design research and business partners and whether large collaborative grants would be appropriate in the field. It also seeks more general views on what sort of funding mechanisms could work.
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