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2024: The Societal Impact of Applied Design Research

Research Theme 2024

Call for Submissions

What is the societal impact of applied design research? What contribution can design research make to systemic change? And what is needed to contribute to societal transitions towards, for instance, the circular economy, smarter healthcare or a sustainable food system? Challenges during this process include the relationship between developments at different systemic levels, the limited “makeability” of society, and the influence of different worldviews of the involved stakeholders.

The Network Applied Design Research - NADR - calls for contributions discussing The Societal Impact of Applied Design Research - How can applied design research be deployed to enhance systemic change and contribute to societal transitions towards, for example, the circular economy, smarter healthcare or a sustainable food system? 

The results of this call will be presented at the annual NADR event during the Dutch Design Week on 21 October 2024 and will be included in an Open Access book publication that will be released in early 2025. We welcome contributions focusing on the following topics: Connecting system Levels, Theory of Change, Limited 'Makeability' of Society, Balancing different Worldviews and the Unique Value of Applied Design. Read more about the topics below.

Process and Dates

  • Submission of 300 word abstracts: 15 April 2024
  • Work session with all contributors, Utrecht: 22 April 2024
  • Optional writing and discussion meeting: 19 June 2024
  • Full chapters for editorial review: 15 July 2024
  • Full chapters for NADR symposium: 1 October 2024
  • Presentation of papers/chapters at NADR symposium - Dutch Design Week 2024 - Eindhoven (21 October,Microlab)
  • Final chapters for NADR Book Publication - 1 December 2024

Submissions can be submitted via Easychair: https://easychair.org/cfp/NADR2024

Research Topics

List of Topics

  1. Connecting System Levels 

For relatively short-term design research to contribute effectively to long-term changes in society, it is necessary to act at different system levels: materials, products, services, socio-technical ecosystems and society as a whole. At which level can design interventions take place, and what is the interrelationship between interventions at the different system levels? How can seemingly small design-based interventions achieve a profound societal impact? 

  1. Theory of Change 

What activities do design researchers carry out within the limits of their own sphere of influence? With what concrete results? How do these results contribute to certain outcomes (e.g. a major behavioural change of citizens, or the introduction of regenerative materials in a certain value chain) that lie outside the design researcher's direct sphere of influence? And what impact does this subsequently have on the social issue as a whole? In other words, what are the underlying Theories of Change and associated Impact Pathways of applied design researchers? 

  1. Limited ‘Makeability’ of Society 

Designers focus on changing an existing situation into a new, desired one. However, such a linear and solution-oriented approach may not work when dealing with complex societal transition processes. How do design researchers balance their optimistic desire to bring about positive change, with the limitations of controlling a complex and constantly evolving socio-technical ecosystem? In other words, how do design researchers respond to the limited 'makeability' of society?  

  1. Balancing Different Worldviews 

Applied design research requires the involvement of many different actors, each of them operating based on their specific worldviews and interpretive frameworks. But also the design researcher operates from a personal set of values and beliefs, whether consciously or unconsciously. What role do these underlying values and ideologies play when undertaking a design research initiative? How can consensus and collective responsibility be fostered? And what is the role of possible conflicting interests?  

  1. Unique Value of Applied Design

Within all these themes, the question remains: what is the unique added value of Applied Design? There is already a multitude of consultants, advisers and other experts focusing on the complex issues that society faces. How can the designer's power of creativity and imagination be used to best effect? How can their unique expertise, aimed at synthesising seemingly contradictory and disconnected parts into a unique new whole, actually have a positive impact on society?