Design Research Hub

The Design Research Hub is focused on the production and dissemination of high quality research in design at Manchester School of Art.

The Design Research Hub encourages and supports both leading and and new researchers who are exploring the theories and practices of a diverse range of design and craft based activities. It consists of, and encourages collaboration between academics, researchers and practitioners drawn from a breadth of disciplinary specialisms including ceramics, glass, textiles, graphic design, illustration, interior and product design. Key themes and interests are—

Community, Culture & Heritage, including social and cultural engagement with diverse cultures and their heritage, in particular with marginalised and displaced groups.

Design for Mental Health and Wellbeing, including the application of design to support people living with mental health, dementia and disability as well as addressing stigma, to improve social engagement, agency and quality of life.

Design driven innovation and speculative design, including working with businesses to facilitate design-led innovation leading to improved social and economic benefit.

Making and Materiality, including technical, material or process innovation to enable the creative and practical development of novel solutions in both analogue and digital areas.

Underpinning these four themes, there are two further trans-disciplinary areas—

Sustainable Design, in acknowledgement of all design interventions having an effect on our natural environment, resource limitations and climate change, which therefore need to be considered in all undertakings

Design Education and the development of its teaching practices are essential to grow tomorrows cohort of ethical and responsible designers able to follow a publicly engaged, collaborative, interdisciplinary and challenge-led approach.

Researchers in this group are engaged in exploring all of the diverse range of the practices, theories, histories, and languages of design. The aims of the centre are to examine the role of design, in its diversity of forms, and to recognize, evaluate and profile its significance. The objectives of the centre are to disseminate designs past, present and future, through the production of a range of works and through many mediums. Our researchers are engaged in the production of objects, books, exhibitions, papers, and many other research initiatives and projects. The centre encourages interaction between subject areas, academic and practice-led projects, and institutional collaboration. It is an intersection between researchers and practitioners, academics and teachers, and a hub for positive exchange and creative production.

Recent Projects

Members

• Professor
  Kristina Niedderer
  Research Hub Leader
  —
  
• Louise Adkins
  Senior Lecturer
  —
  
• Kirsteen Aubrey
  Education Lead: Design Department
  —
  
• Mark Beecroft
  Senior Lecturer,
  Dept of Design
  —
  
• Jo Berry
  Senior Lecturer,
  Dept of Design
  —
  
• Lucy Biggs
  Senior Lecturer,
  Dept of Design
  —
  
• Clare Calveley
  Lecturer,
  Dept of Design
  —
  
• Fabrizio Cocchiarella
  Senior Lecturer,
  Dept of Design
  —
  
• Professor
  Stephen Dixon
  Professor of Contemporary Crafts
  —
  
• Kate Egan
  Senior Lecturer,
  Dept of Design
  —
  
• Professor
  Martyn Evans
  Director of Manchester School of Art
  —
  
• Lucy Gannon
  Senior Lecturer,
  Dept of Design
  —
  
• Adam Griffiths
  Lecturer,
  Dept of Design
  —
  
• David Grimshaw
  Programme Leader MA/MSc/MFA Product Design & MA/MSc/MFA Craft
  —
  
• Jonathan Hitchen
  Senior Lecturer,
  Dept of Design
  —
  
• Graham Jones
  Senior Lecturer,
  Dept of Design
  —
  
• Rachel Kelly
  Senior Lecturer,
  Dept of Design
  —
  
• Professor
  Alice Kettle
  Professor of Textile Arts
  —
  
• Geoffrey Mann
  Programme Leader BA (Hons) Product Design & Craft
  —
  
• Shelley McNulty
  Head of Design
  —
  
• Sally Morfill
  Senior Lecturer,
  Dept of Design
  —
  
• Eleanor Mulhearn
  Senior Lecturer,
  Dept of Design
  —
  
• Dr Jea Hoo Na
  Lecturer,
  Dept of Design
  —
  
• Dr CJ O'Neill
  Senior Lecturer,
  Dept of Design
  —
  
• Laura Orton
  Graduate Research Assistant (Design)
  —
  
• Sue Platt
  Senior Lecturer,
  Dept of Design
  —
  
• Lesley Raven
  Programme Leader BA (Hons) Fashion Art Direction
  —
  
• Dr Lynn Setterington
  Senior Lecturer,
  Dept of Design
  —
  
• Jon Spruce
  Programme Leader BA (Hons) Product Design
  —
  
• Steve Threlfall
  Senior Lecturer,
  Dept of Design
  —
  
• Dr Isabelle Tournier
  Research Fellow,
  Dept of Design
  —
  
• Lucy Vann
  Lecturer,
  Dept of Design
  —
  
• John Walsh
  Programme Leader BA (Hons) Graphic Design
  Subject Leader MA/MFA Graphic Design & Art Direction
  —
  
• Ian Whadcock
  Senior Lecturer, BA(Hons) Illustration with Animation and MA/MFA Illustration
  —
  

Exhibitions & Publications

Exhibitions

Kettle, AM., 2022. Slipware, Crafts Study Centre, Farnham.

Kettle, A., 2021. Threadbound, Candida Stevens Gallery, 16/10/2021 - 12/11/2021.

Biggs, LE., 2020. Creative Landscapes, Brewery Arts Centre.

Biggs, LE., 2020. Letterspace, Manchester City Centre.

Biggs, LE., 2020. Made in Translation, The Portico Library.

Biggs, 2020. Made in Translation, Portico Library, Manchester.

Cocchiarella, F., Shaw, A., 2020. Radical Response Milan, Ventura Projects, Dezeen Virtual Design Festival 2020, 15/4/2020 - 30/6/2020.

Artefacts

Orton, L., Niedderer, K., 2021. 'A Guide to Mindful Scenario Task Analysis', Manchester Metropolitan University.

Whadcock, IJ., 2021. 'Imaginary Worlds.', Oriel Davies Gallery Newtown Powys Wales..

Niedderer, K., Craven, M., Gosling, J., Orton, L., 2021. 'Mindful Co-design for Dementia toolkit', Manchester Metropolitan University.

Mann, G., 2021. 'Poise'.

Mann, G., 2021. 'The Leith Pattern'.

Mann, G., 2021. 'The Second Line'.

Kelly, R., 2020. 'CORDILLERA: A Weave Learning Tool Kit', https://indd.adobe.com/view/f28cce7e-ab22-49fe-a457-1b109e7b2906.

Ian, S., Prof Richard, VN., Aubrey, K., 2020. 'Sensing the coast: exploring permanence, physicality and perspective', Atelier d'arts Film Fest (European Film Festival for Fine Crafts) and Real to Reel, the UK Film Festival of Crafts,.

Books

Evans, M., Shaw, A., Na, JN., 2020. 'Design revolutions: IASDR 2019 Conference Proceedings. Volume 1: Change, Voices, Open', Manchester Metropolitan University.

Evans, M., Shaw, A., Na, J., 2020. 'Design revolutions: IASDR 2019 Conference Proceedings. Volume 2: Living, Making, Value', Manchester Metropolitan University.

Evans, M., Shaw, A., Na, J., 2020. 'Design revolutions: IASDR 2019 Conference Proceedings. Volume 3: People', Manchester Metropolitan University.

Evans, M., Shaw, A., Na, J., 2020. 'Design revolutions: IASDR 2019 Conference Proceedings. Volume 4: Learning, Technology, Thinking', Manchester Metropolitan University.

Book Chapters

Tournier, I., Vidovicova, L., 2021. 'Social Exclusion in Later Life'. In Social Exclusion in Later Life: Interdisciplinary and Policy Perspectives, Springer International Publishing.

Morfill, SE., 2020. 'Artistic Research in Performance through Collaboration'. In Blain, M., Minors, HJ. (eds.) Artistic Research in Performance through Collaboration, Springer International Publishing.

Niedderer, K., Tournier, I., Coleston-Shields, DM., Craven,, M., Gosling, J., Garde, J., Salter, B., Bosse, M., Griffioen, I., 2020. 'Designing with and for People with Dementia: Developing a Mindful Interdisciplinary Co-Design Methodology'. In Muratovski, G., Vogel, C. (eds.) Re:Research. Volume 4: Design and Living Well, pp. 147-168, Intellect.

Ravetz, A., Kettle, A., Felcey, H., 2020. 'In the Bee Hive: Valuing Craft in the Creative Industries'. In Blain, M., Minors, HJ. (eds.) Artistic Research in Performance through Collaboration, Palgrave.

Niedderer, K., Harrison, D., Gosling, J., Craven, MP., Blackler, A., Losada, R., Cid, T., 2020. 'Working with Experts with Experience: Charting Co-production and Co-design in the Development of HCI-Based Design.'. In Brankaert, R., Kenning, G. (eds.) HCI and Design in the Context of Dementia, pp. 303-320, Springer.

Reports

Vidovicova, L., Tournier, I., 2020. 'Community and Spatial Aspects of Exclusion in Later Life'.

Internet Publications

Niedderer, K., Orton, L., 2020. 'Living the Life', https://www.designingfordemenia.eu/rersources.

Journal Articles

Niedderer, K., Holthoff-Detto, V., van Rompay, TJL., Karahanoglu, A., Ludden, GDS., Almeida, R., Durán, RL., Aguado, YB., Lim, JNW., Smith, T., Harrison, D., Craven, MP., Gosling, J., Orton, L., Tournier, I., 2022. 'This is Me: Evaluation of a boardgame to promote social engagement, wellbeing and agency in people with dementia through mindful life-storytelling', Journal of Aging Studies, 60.

Lim, JNW., Niedderer, K., Tournier, I., Almeida, R., Harrison, D., Holthoff-Detto, V., Ludden, G., van Rompay, T., van der Voort, M., Galansinska, A., Smith, T., Lasada, RL., Bueno, YA., Druschke, D., Ziebuhr, B., Zanasi, M., 2021. 'Applying a multicentre, interdisciplinary approach to strengthen the generalisability of qualitative dementia research: the experience and challenges faced by the MinD project in Europe', Open Research Europe, 1, pp. 64-64.

Lim, JNW., Niedderer, K., Tournier, I., Almeida, R., Harrison, D., Holthoff-Detto, V., Ludden, G., van Rompay, T., van der Voort, M., Galansinska, A., Smith, T., Lasada, RL., Bueno, YA., Druschke, D., Ziebuhr, B., Zanasi, M., 2021. 'Assessing the generalisability of a multicentre qualitative dementia research: the experience and challenges faced by the MinD project in Europe', Open Research Europe, 1, pp. 64-64.

Townsend, K., Niedderer, K., 2021. 'Craft as a meeting place', Craft Research, 12 (1), pp. 3-8.

Niedderer, K., Townsend, K., 2021. 'Craft between tradition and adaptation', Craft Research, 12 (2), pp. 175-181.

Kelly, R., 2021. 'Creating Paradise Through a Palimpsest of Textile Higher Education and Community-Based Research', TEXTILE, pp. 1-16.

Fels, D., Blackler, A., Niedderer, K., 2021. 'Does bouncy equal happy? Comparing user's interpretations of emotions conveyed by one designed moving object based on the soma-semiotic framework.', Appl Ergon, 96, pp. 103463-103463.

Zhang, W., Walker, S., Evans, M., Bennett, J., 2021. 'Inheritors of the Yellow River: The relationship of heritage making practices to cultural self-confidence in China', International Journal of Anthropology and Ethnology, 5 (1).

Spruce, J., 2021. 'Reflections on a Project-based Approach to Work-related Learning in Spatial Design', The International Journal of Design Education, 15 (1), pp. 101-117.

Kelly, R., Fruebing, S., 2021. 'Whose futures need crafting? A collaborative evaluation of the British Council/Crafts Council Crafting Futures 5K grant scheme', Art, Design & Communication in Higher Education, 20 (1), pp. 103-114.

Kettle, A., 2020. 'Book Review: Perspectives on Work, Home and Identity from Artisans in Telangana: Conversations around Craft', Craft Research, 11 (1), pp. 143-147.

Townsend, K., Niedderer, K., 2020. 'Crafting health, well-being and happiness', Craft Research, 11 (1), pp. 3-8.

Niedderer, K., Townsend, K., 2020. 'Crafting progress through research education and digital innovation', Craft Research, 11 (2), pp. 171-176.

Niedderer, K., 2020. 'Explorative Materiality and Knowledge. The Role of Creative Exploration and Artefacts in Design Research', FormAkademisk - forskningstidsskrift for design og designdidaktikk, 6 (2).

Tournier, I., 2020. 'Learning and adaptation in older adults: An overview of main methods and theories', Learning, Culture and Social Interaction, pp. 100466-100466.

Fleck, R., Cecchinato, ME., Cox, AL., Harrison, D., Marshall, P., Na, JH., Skatova, A., 2020. 'Life-swap: how discussions around personal data can motivate desire for change', Personal and Ubiquitous Computing, 24 (5), pp. 669-681.

Chudasri, D., Walker, S., Evans, M., 2020. 'Potential areas for design and its implementation to enable the future viability of weaving practices in Northern Thailand', International Journal of Design, 14 (1), pp. 95-111.

Thome, J., Deloyer, J., Coogan, AN., Bailey-Rodriguez, D., da Cruz e Silva, OAB., Faltraco, F., Grima, C., Gudjonsson, SO., Hanon, C., Hollý, M., Joosten, J., Karlsson, I., Kelemen, G., Korman, M., Krysta, K., Lichterman, B., Loganovsky, K., Marazziti, D., 2020. 'The impact of the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental-health services in Europe', The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry, pp. 1-15.

Spruce, J., Evans, M., 2020. 'Transforming Learning Through User-Centered Design Research Methods', American Journal of Art and Design, 5 (2), pp. 50-50.

Spruce, J., Kiernan, L., Douglas, M., Ryan, A., 2020. 'Where Does Design Thinking Leave Design? Snapshots of a conversation with the design community', Iterations: Design Research & Practice Review, 8.

Conference Papers

Nimkulrat, N., Niedderer, K., Evans, M., 2020. 'Editorial', in EKSIG 2013: Knowing Inside Out - Experiential Knowledge, Expertise and Connoisseurship - International Conference 2013 of the Design Research Society Special Interest Group on Experiential Knowledge, Conference Proceedings, pp. 3-10.

Other Outputs

Kelly, R., Stephens, M., 2021. 'A Weave Learning Toolkit'.

Stewart, S., 2021. 'Urban Workbench - citizen-driven placemaking'.