Design-focused Research Group

The Design-focused Research Group undertakes research that focuses on design activity. In doing this, it assumes a broad definition of design similar to that of Herbert Simon:

"Design is the human activity resulting in a plan to change an existing situation into a preferred situation"

Outputs of design include: products, systems, services, behaviours, concepts, processes and organisations. Design activity, therefore, is seen as the central reason and core practice of all professionals and semi-professionals regardless of discipline.

The design-focused research group undertakes several design-related research projects and publishes across many design-related disciplines in line with these perspectives on design. Currently, the main research focus, funded for three years by Curtin University, is:

Developing a Successful Australian Design Infrastructure for Innovation, Sustainability and International Competitiveness