About

The Institute of Design Research (IDR) provides a platform for innovative and experimental design research. With its integrative approach, the IDR bundles, coordinates and supports research activities, thereby ensuring a close exchange between research and teaching as well as building up a relevant knowledge base. In terms of content, the research is based on the various research units with their respective focuses:

Research at the IDR focuses on the current design practice, drawing inspiration from the fields of the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and arts, among others. In doing so, it covers the field design theory and design studies to design science.

The overarching clusters of “Health Design” and the Digital Health Design Living Lab (DHD LL), “Global Design” and “Ecology & Sustainability Design” explore relevant issues in interdisciplinary settings and laboratories.

In cooperation projects with renowned national and international partners from research and industry, researchers investigate new development perspectives. In addition to basic research, application-oriented innovation projects promote the knowledge transfer from the scientific field into products and services and the founding of spin-offs.

A dedicated funding and mentoring programme, prepares young researchers for a career in academic or industrial research and integrates supervision for doctoral candidates, "peer-to-peer" exchanges, and networking formats for researchers.

Contacts

Head of Institute for Design Research:
Dr. Anna Lisa Martin-Niedecken

R&D Council: Prof. Dr. Karmen Franinovic, Prof. Ulrich Götz, Prof. Niklaus Heeb, Prof. Nicole Kind, Dr. Anna Lisa Martin-Niedecken Prof. Dr. Sarah Owens, Prof. Dr. phil. Sophia Prinz, Prof. Bitten Stetter, Caroline Feder a.i.

Institute Coordinators:
Jasmina Courti, jasmina.courti@zhdk.ch
Jasmin Huber, jasmin.huber@zhdk.ch