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Critical Design at the Royal College of Art and its impact on design and the public understanding of science

Summary of the impact

Dunne, Raby, and their colleagues' research into Critical Design at the Royal College of Art (RCA) since 1997 has influenced the methods and ideas of design practice through inclusion in major design exhibitions, conferences, expert collaboration with companies, and coverage in the press, TV and film. Moreover, it has had impact on cultural life and public discourse, by enhancing public understanding of major issues and challenges posed by science and technology for individuals and society, through design research and exhibitions in major international museums, and inclusion in public museum collections.

Submitting Institution

Royal College of Art

Unit of Assessment

Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Studies In Creative Arts and Writing: Film, Television and Digital Media
Language, Communication and Culture: Cultural Studies

Improving strategic design management competence in small and medium sized companies through action and case-study research

Summary of the impact

Birmingham Institute of Art and Design (BIAD) has researched the extent and effectiveness of design management in companies for over 15 years. The research has combined an academic analysis with a practice based approach where findings have been implemented through a succession of industry-facing, large-scale, externally funded projects.

Through this sustained activity, design tools, methods and support strategies have been developed, delivered, tested and disseminated internationally. Additionally, the experiences are fed back into the continuing research that underpins the practical activity.

Since 2008, BIAD's business-facing projects have:

  • assisted over 300 companies (compared with 70+ in 2003-2008);
  • established 21 new businesses;
  • built a network of 400 companies;
  • secured over £3m of grant funding; and
  • been instrumental in shifting company culture from cost-driven to value-added.

Submitting Institution

Birmingham City University

Unit of Assessment

Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory

Summary Impact Type

Economic

Research Subject Area(s)

Information and Computing Sciences: Information Systems
Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services: Business and Management
Studies In Human Society: Policy and Administration

Design evaluation and visualisation

Summary of the impact

The research has led to participation in, and leadership of, high level groups at both national and European levels, and has had an impact on local engagement in planning and urban design, and led to support for sustainable design principles.

The research has concentrated on the inclusion of wider groups within urban and architectural design, and this has helped to encourage engagement in the provision of greenspace and sustainable urban transport. This is manifest through significant sustainable projects, including hydrogen and electric vehicles, and through engagement with the wider community, including children.

Submitting Institution

Robert Gordon University

Unit of Assessment

Architecture, Built Environment and Planning

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Education: Specialist Studies In Education
Studies In Human Society: Policy and Administration

Designing for Emotional Durability

Summary of the impact

CHAPMAN's research into emotionally durable design has radically shifted the values and practices of global businesses, helping them to cut waste and to enhance product, material and brand value. Through publications, exhibitions, master-classes and films, this research has transformed understanding of sustainable design in professional (Puma, Sony), policy (House of Lords, UN) and cultural (Design Museum, New Scientist) settings, propelling the field beyond its focus on energy and materials, towards deeper engagements that link psychosocial phenomena with ideas about consumption and waste. Furthermore, it has contributed to public debate and policy with the effect that the term `emotional durability' has now entered the international design lexicon, providing valuable shorthand for complex phenomena influencing product longevity.

Submitting Institution

University of Brighton

Unit of Assessment

Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Studies In Human Society: Anthropology
Studies In Creative Arts and Writing: Visual Arts and Crafts

Institutionalising HCI in Asia: an impact focusing on India and China

Summary of the impact

This impact case study is discussed in terms of six years of research collaboration with relevant bodies in India and China through EU-funded projects encouraging the development of a usability culture in academic and industrial sectors. Impact in this case can be seen at three levels:

  • Appropriation of HCI concepts and methods to suit the local country/culture;
  • forming of consortia around the reshaped discipline that can actively promote HCI in industry and academia and establish links with national organizations;
  • the roll-out of effective usability practice in industry.

Submitting Institution

University of West London

Unit of Assessment

Computer Science and Informatics

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Information and Computing Sciences: Information Systems
Education: Specialist Studies In Education
Studies In Human Society: Policy and Administration

Making sense of complex data through innovations in visualisation

Summary of the impact

New visualisation approaches have been used to turn complex data into actionable knowledge by:

  • The Ministry of Defence to establish analytical possibilities for security critical data analysis
  • Transport for London (TfL) to manage and extend London's successful Cycle Hire Scheme
  • E.ON to interpret data produced through their modelling and in their Smart Home trial, with a view to understanding electricity consumption and reducing production
  • Leicestershire County Council (LCC) to develop an evidence base for a sustainable transport plan; record and analyse the locations of locally valued green spaces; capture local knowledge about flooding events; monitor performance of children's centres; present the results of a survey on service quality and accessibility to citizens; undertake a £100M budget consultation and embed data in decision-making processes to inform policy
  • Willis to understand and assess windstorm risk, communicate the complexity of risk to clients and manage risk across their global offices through a new software system.

These applications of new visualisation methods have had impact on the environment, economy, defence and security, society and public debate. In each case users of our methods report on their positive impact as we help them identify visualisation possibilities, understand their data and use this knowledge to inform their activity. In many cases our work has resulted in important insights, improved exploitation of data and further investment in visualisation with organisational implications in terms of using data for intelligence.

Submitting Institution

City University, London

Unit of Assessment

Computer Science and Informatics

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Information and Computing Sciences: Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing, Computer Software, Information Systems

Integrating human factors into health design

Summary of the impact

This case study highlights research excellence in health design by a Group of four multi-disciplinary researchers. Collectively the Group of researchers apply user-centred approaches to design and evaluation of products and services which improve health and wellbeing. The Group employs user-engagement throughout the design lifecycle to achieve societal benefits through improved products, information, services, and systems. The research has delivered:

  • Economic Impact: by working with companies and organisations to deliver new products for the growing market in assistive technologies and services which support health and lifestyle improvements
  • Health Impacts: by improving health and quality of life for those with specific conditions and disabilities. This includes working with medical practitioners to translate ideas into products.
  • Impact on User Engagement in Policy Making: by addressing the challenges of collecting the needs and views of hard-to-reach groups and by using their techniques to develop Europe-wide guidelines for telehealth care services.

Beneficiaries include end-users of assistive technology, patients with long-term conditions and their carers, medical practitioners, policy makers and commercial organisations.

Submitting Institution

Coventry University

Unit of Assessment

Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Public Health and Health Services
Education: Specialist Studies In Education

OMELETTE

Summary of the impact

OMELETTE was a project funded under the EC Framework 7 programme under the Future Services theme. The project developed the state of the art for combining web mashups with telecommunications services, building on and contributing towards existing open-source technologies. By combining voice, data, and specialised telecommunications capabilities with web standards, new applications were made possible for both enterprise and consumer users, particularly as these mashups could be created by non-programmers.

The impact of the project from both an industry and scientific point of view was recognised by the reviewers from the EC, who rated the project as "Excellent".

Submitting Institution

University of Bolton

Unit of Assessment

Communication, Cultural and Media Studies, Library and Information Management 

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Information and Computing Sciences: Data Format, Information Systems

Improving the design of health care facilities for people with neural disabilities

Summary of the impact

Research at Kingston University led by Hilary Dalke has established the beneficial effects of colour design for application in long-term health care environments for people with neural disabilities. This work has led to the development of spatial design principles for improving the experience of service users, patients and staff.

Through her consultancy work with architectural firms, individual NHS hospitals, mental health units, independent charities and healthcare furniture and equipment suppliers such as Hill-Rom, Dalke has influenced their understanding of the issues involved, leading to improved design in hospitals, care homes and day centres, with consequent benefits for patients, staff and visitors in four institutions.

Submitting Institution

Kingston University

Unit of Assessment

Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Nursing, Public Health and Health Services

Design governance in the built environment: Facilitating the use of design codes

Summary of the impact

Work by Carmona et al has supported the national drive for better design in the built environment, helping to mainstream ideas about the importance of urban design and develop tools for design governance. A major strand of this research has focused on the use and potential of design codes in England, and has been a major contributor to their widespread adoption. As a result, by 2012, some 45% of local authorities and 66% of urban design consultants had used design codes.

Submitting Institution

University College London

Unit of Assessment

Architecture, Built Environment and Planning

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Public Health and Health Services

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