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Accessibility statement
An image to illustrate the Design research area
The Design Group incorporates a range of expertise across the spectrum of design research and reflects a non-discipline-specific approach to understanding design and design processes. Our research is wide-ranging, often drawing on, and combining with, other disciplines. We work in many sectors and contexts including product and manufacturing, fashion, urban and built environment, participatory design, sustainability, innovation, energy and climate change. Our teaching and research are mutually reinforcing.
Over the last 50 years the group has developed world-leading expertise in the processes, approaches and tools for delivering design education at a distance. The OU Design Group has performed consistently well in National audits of research quality, repeatedly appearing in the top ten UK institutions for research quality in Design. We are a supportive community of researchers and welcome new members of the group, whether they are staff or students: it’s a great place to do a PhD!
The research that the Design Group undertakes seeks to advance understanding of design and innovation’s role in society, to transform lives and to challenge the ways that people participate in this change. Our research is clustered around key themes:
Most of our full-time research students are based at our campus in Milton Keynes UK, with part-time students generally working remotely. For details of residence requirements for different modes of study see Full-time study and Part-time study.
The group has design prototyping facilities, STEM laboratories and digital design studio technologies:
Explore specific areas of research, current and prospective projects, entry requirements, fees and funding, available supervisors, how to apply and contact details for advice.
Collaborative design
Complexity and design
Design education
Design processes
Sustainable design and innovation
Consider linked topics from other research areas.
Artificial intelligence and natural language processing
Human-centred computing
Social and responsible marketing
Software engineering and design