Research hub: Design

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