Abstract
This theme track is new to DRS2026 and situates design research in the local environment, providing cases and examples of design research being undertaken that are locally situated and relational to place. This theme track provides an opportunity for researchers contributing new insights to our research community based on the unique opportunities presented by the local context, whether that is related to climate, culture, geography, economics, or institutional. The emphasis on this theme is to learn from locally situated cases of design research through projects undertaken “in situ” that demonstrate a sensitivity and understanding of the local context in which they are taking place, raising both awareness of specific local design requirements in lieu of general principles and frameworks, while also highlighting the diversity and plurality of the communities (and their respective local knowledge) in which we operate, and how that impacts design research. For DRS2026, our situated design cases will be drawn from the proximity of Edinburgh and, more generally, Scotland.
Keywords
Design; Locale; Scotland; Community
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2026.256
Citation
Winton, E., Jamieson, K., and Verhoven, A. (2026) Situating Design Research: Unique perspectives and practices of design research locally grounded, in Simeone, L., Gray, C. M., Verhoeven, A., de Götzen, A., Bakırlıoğlu, Y., Zohar, H., Stead, M., and Buwert, P. (eds.), DRS2026: Edinburgh, 8–12 June, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2026.256
Creative Commons License
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Included in
Situating Design Research: Unique perspectives and practices of design research locally grounded
This theme track is new to DRS2026 and situates design research in the local environment, providing cases and examples of design research being undertaken that are locally situated and relational to place. This theme track provides an opportunity for researchers contributing new insights to our research community based on the unique opportunities presented by the local context, whether that is related to climate, culture, geography, economics, or institutional. The emphasis on this theme is to learn from locally situated cases of design research through projects undertaken “in situ” that demonstrate a sensitivity and understanding of the local context in which they are taking place, raising both awareness of specific local design requirements in lieu of general principles and frameworks, while also highlighting the diversity and plurality of the communities (and their respective local knowledge) in which we operate, and how that impacts design research. For DRS2026, our situated design cases will be drawn from the proximity of Edinburgh and, more generally, Scotland.