UC to Host 2017 International Association of Societies of Design Research Conference

For the first time since its inception, the International Association of Societies of Design Research (IASDR) conference will be held in North America – at the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP).

The conference, which occurs every two years, will bring more than 200 people from around the globe to DAAP to explore the possibilities of design research.

Previous ISDR conferences were held in Australia, Japan, The Netherlands, Korea and Hong Kong.

IASDR, established in 2005, promotes research or study into or about the activity of design by encouraging collaboration, on an international level, between independent societies of design research.

The theme for

IASDR 2017 is Re: Research

.

“There have been explosive changes in design throughout the past 20 years, which calls for a reexamination of design research’s accomplishments, aims, and possibilities,” said Craig Vogel, DAAP associate dean of graduate studies and research and co-chair of the event. “The 2017 IASDR conference will review the distinctive approaches to design research in the U.S. and discuss and review the best research from around the world to jointly re-imagine the array of possibilities for design and design research in the 21 century.”

Co-chair Gjoko Muratovski, director of the Myron E. Ullman, Jr. School of Design, says, “As more designers shift to applying research and an evidence-based design approach in their work, the need for learning appropriate research skills will grow. Universities are already introducing research-driven design curricula, and they are reducing design programs that focus solely on technical design skills.”

Muratovski adds that doctoral programs in design will continue to grow as the need for designers who are proficient in various research methodologies and capable of working on large and complex projects will increase in demand. He says designers with technical skills will still be needed, but in order for them to be competitive, they will need to continue upgrading their skills.

During IASDR 2017 Re: Research, guest speakers from renowned companies such as Amazon, GE, Facebook, and Proctor & Gamble will share their insights about design and design research and how it affects and transforms our global society.

The University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP) is uniquely positioned to address the current changes and challenges of design research. The college seeks to leverage its heritage as a city-based university and a Tier I Research Institution to support Cincinnati in redefining its role as an innovation center for the 21st century global economy. These changes and challenges also serve as the foundation for IASDR 2017 Re: Research, the rigorous dialogue provided by this platform, and the connections developed between the guest speakers from the U.S. and the international perspectives of a global conference.

IASDR 2017 Re: Research brings together over 150 papers from 25 countries. Members of the UC community are welcome to attend the opening keynote by 

Don Norman

at 5 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 31, in DAAP's main auditorium, Room 4400.

For more information about the conference visit

www.IASDR2017.com

.