Design research is alive and kicking...

This paper explores the current situation of design research with a particular emphasis on how emerging forms of design research are framing andaddressing contemporaryglobal issues. The paper examines how design research canbe a creative and transformative force in helping to shape our lives in more responsible, sustainable, and meaningful ways. Today, theplurality in design research is clearlyevident given the wide range of conceptual, methodological,technological and theoretical approaches adopted. Moreover, various forms of design research now routinely appear in a vast array of disciplines in and around modern design praxis, including business, engineering, computing, and healthcare. This paper reviews a rich selection of the state-of-the-art design research that exemplify the range of approaches, methods, applications, and collaborationsprevalent in emerging forms of design research and presents 10 characteristics of ‘good’ design research that will support design researchers in addressing the complex global issues we face.