Emerging Themes
Amongst London's Design Schools there are researchers and research projects tackling issues which will be significant for the future of our economies, for sustainability, cultural understanding, health and well-being or the technologies we use. Much of this research work is backed by major funding from the UK research funding councils and EU because of the significance it will have to our futures.
This design based research work is both diverse and in-depth. For example, at Brunel University a research group is focused on developing more environmentally sustainable electronics manufacturing techniques. At the Royal College of Art, there is collaborative research with the vehicle design area exploring developments in Smart Textiles.
Often this research will lead directly to new products and services. Businesses who collaborate with the groups undertaking this research activity can gain new insights for innovation within their own organisations. However, to the outsider the research expertise within universities is often seemly in-accessible. This listing provides a simple overview of current design based research groups arranged according to broad thematic areas.
Culture, Futures, History
Human Centred Design
Sustainable Design
Technology