Translational Design: Enabling impact in complex, multi-stakeholder research projects through design
Abstract
Translational research converts the knowledge generated through basic research into tangible innovations, solutions, and interventions that directly impact people and the planet. As universities increasingly seek to maximise research impact, the applied, action-oriented, epistemology of design is well-positioned to support translational research. Successful translation requires strong communication and collaboration between different disciplines, industry partners, policy, and research end-users. Multi-stakeholder collaborations foster holistic approaches, leading to more effective and contextually relevant solutions. Designers are well-positioned to facilitate complex entanglements, integrating the needs and values of diverse perspectives. However, the emerging role of design as an enabler of translational research needs to be defined. How does the configuration and culture of the research ecosystem shape the translational role of design? Are new methodologies needed? And, how do we move beyond transactional roles to define and lead impactful projects alongside other disciplines? Translational research involves iterative cycles of dialogue, evaluation, refinement, and adaptation to effectively convert research findings into practical outcomes. Through prototype development, visual communication, and visualization, designers excel in translating complex research into compelling, imaginable, tangible, and accessible formats. Design processes guide us towards implementation, but are existing tools and methods fit for research contexts? By bridging the gap between research and application, translational design has the potential to enable innovation in universities; better connecting research to impact. Through reflection on the legacy of practice-based research in design, we invite design researchers to articulate the impact we can make by bringing strategic translational design research methodologies to complex, multidisciplinary, research projects.
Keywords
Research Translation, Impact, Innovation, Implementation
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2024.129
Citation
Page, R.C., Hornbuckle, R., Heiss, L., and Nogueira, A. (2024) Translational Design: Enabling impact in complex, multi-stakeholder research projects through design, in Gray, C., Ciliotta Chehade, E., Hekkert, P., Forlano, L., Ciuccarelli, P., Lloyd, P. (eds.), DRS2024: Boston, 23–28 June, Boston, USA. https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2024.129
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Conference Track
Research Paper
Included in
Translational Design: Enabling impact in complex, multi-stakeholder research projects through design
Translational research converts the knowledge generated through basic research into tangible innovations, solutions, and interventions that directly impact people and the planet. As universities increasingly seek to maximise research impact, the applied, action-oriented, epistemology of design is well-positioned to support translational research. Successful translation requires strong communication and collaboration between different disciplines, industry partners, policy, and research end-users. Multi-stakeholder collaborations foster holistic approaches, leading to more effective and contextually relevant solutions. Designers are well-positioned to facilitate complex entanglements, integrating the needs and values of diverse perspectives. However, the emerging role of design as an enabler of translational research needs to be defined. How does the configuration and culture of the research ecosystem shape the translational role of design? Are new methodologies needed? And, how do we move beyond transactional roles to define and lead impactful projects alongside other disciplines? Translational research involves iterative cycles of dialogue, evaluation, refinement, and adaptation to effectively convert research findings into practical outcomes. Through prototype development, visual communication, and visualization, designers excel in translating complex research into compelling, imaginable, tangible, and accessible formats. Design processes guide us towards implementation, but are existing tools and methods fit for research contexts? By bridging the gap between research and application, translational design has the potential to enable innovation in universities; better connecting research to impact. Through reflection on the legacy of practice-based research in design, we invite design researchers to articulate the impact we can make by bringing strategic translational design research methodologies to complex, multidisciplinary, research projects.