About our research

About our research

In the Design Research Hub, we approach design as an agent for positive change.

We seek to create a viable future by facilitating responsible cultural, social, material and technological transformations — not just in Manchester and the UK, but around the world.

The hub is organised into four thematic groups, representing our research strengths and foci:

  • Community, Culture and Heritage — social and cultural engagement with diverse cultures and their heritage, in particular with marginalised and displaced groups
  • Design for Mental Health and Wellbeing — using design to support people living with mental health, dementia and disability, as well as addressing stigma and improving social engagement, agency and quality of life
  • Design Driven Innovation and Speculative Design — working with businesses to facilitate design-led innovation that benefits society and the economy
  • Making and Materiality — technical, material or process innovation to enable the creative and practical development of novel solutions in both analogue and digital areas

How we work

We have a particular strength in socially-engaged, applied and practice-led research.

Our work is publicly-engaged, collaborative, interdisciplinary and challenge-led. It attracts significant research income, which supports collaborative projects, practice-based research and high-profile exhibitions.

We work with academic, business and third-sector partners across the UK and internationally.

Our research has real world impact, whether that’s in supporting communities, addressing health challenges or making material-related innovations. We submitted three impact case studies to the Research Excellence Framework 2021.

And our work also informs teaching on postgraduate programmes and masters courses in:

  • design innovation
  • design for health and wellbeing
  • textiles
  • craft
  • product design
  • interior design
  • illustration
  • graphic design and art direction

Research themes

  • text on scaffold

    Design for Health and Wellbeing

    Applying design and craft practices to improve both mental and physical wellbeing and health.

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  • CORDILLERA A Weave Learning Tool Kit

    Community, Culture and Heritage

    Using design and craft research to understand and relate to places, people, history and culture.

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  • The Second Line

    Making and Materiality

    Promoting creativity and innovation in design research and practice through the study of making and materials, including the production, use and reuse of materials.

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Selected projects

  • Thread Bearing Witness image

    Thread Bearing Witness

    Responding to migration and social injustice by working with refugees on textile art projects to promote cross-cultural understanding.

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  • IDoService banner

    IDoService

    Designing a volunteer service with and for people with dementia.

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  • woven mat

    Crafting Futures Argentina

    Understanding and supporting the sustainability of collaborative artisan crafts in Argentina.

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  • Two figures looking at art along a wall.

    Design Action Plan

    Promoting strategic design as a driver of innovation and improvement in all sectors and industries across the UK.

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