Organisation profile

Organisation profile

INUSE research group studies designer-user relations in sociotechnical change. Our studies examine the new ways by which design and use become interrelated and the potential that approaches that explicitly focus on this interrelation have for more equitable and sustainable change. In so doing we engage in participatory design, codesign, open and user innovation, open design, peer knowledge creation, user communities, citizen science, knowledge coproduction and user knowledge in organizations. Much of our design spaces are expanded into years or even decade long lines of research. Whilst short term interventions have their place in our repertoire, they are often not enough to change things or for understanding how designer–user relations can be reconfigured and what are the implications of doing this.

Our interest in users, and not just designers, is rooted in their important – and often underestimated- roles in sociotechnical change. Users adjust technology, invent new uses, innovate new practices, products and services, and perform many other activities that shape the paths that new technology takes. We study how they do so and experiment with new ways by which designer–user relations can be organized and orchestrated.

INUSE research is multidisciplinary simply because users’, consumers’, customers’, prosumers’ and citizens’ engagement with design and technology projects is studied in a range of fields. Our main points of reference reside in design research, (particularly human centred design and participatory design) innovation studies (particularly user innovation research and sustainability transitions research) and in Science & Technology Studies (particularly in social shaping of technology and practice theories therein).

 

UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. Our work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 2 - Zero Hunger
  • SDG 4 - Quality Education
  • SDG 5 - Gender Equality
  • SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy
  • SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth
  • SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
  • SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities
  • SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
  • SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
  • SDG 13 - Climate Action
  • SDG 14 - Life Below Water
  • SDG 15 - Life on Land
  • SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years

Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
  • Decolonisation and Participatory Design

    Winschiers-Theophilus, H., Smith, R. C., Van Amstel, F. M. C. & Botero, A., 31 Jan 2025, Routledge International Handbook of Contemporary Participatory Design. Smith, R. C., Loi, D., Winschiers-Theophilus, H., Huybrechts, L. & Simonsen, J. (eds.). 1 ed. London: Routledge, p. 111-137 27 p.

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterScientificpeer-review

  • Designing Together in Multi-Crisis Times : Effects of Mundane and Strategic Work with Indigenous Communities in the Ecuadorian Amazon

    Pinto Torres, N. & Nango, E., 28 Feb 2025, Designing Transformative Change : The Potential of Collaboration and Creativity in Crises. Proceedings of the Social Design Network’s Conference »On the Verge: Design in Times of Crisis«. Fehér, B. & Csernák, J. (eds.). 1 ed. Bielefeld: Transcript Verlag, p. 197-220 24 p. (Design; vol. 68).

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference article in proceedingsScientificpeer-review

    Open Access
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  • Reconciliation Through Digital Textiles

    Perez-Bustos, T., Cortés-Rico, L. & Botero, A., 31 Jan 2025, Routledge International Handbook of Contemporary Participatory Design. Smith, R. C., Loi, D., Winschiers-Theophilus, H., Huybrechts, L. & Simonsen, J. (eds.). 1 ed. London: Routledge, p. 247-258 12 p.

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterScientificpeer-review

  • Creatures Experimental Productions

    Sáez Agurto, F. (Creator), Beavers, I. (Creator), Altarriba Bertran, F. (Creator), Botero, A. (Creator), Buschmann, J. (Creator), Camino, D. (Creator), Chewie (Creator), Choi, J.H.-J. (Creator), Davis, H. (Creator), Seaweed, D. O. (Creator), Dolejšová, M. (Creator), Hanafi, A. (Creator), Heitlinger, S. (Creator), Howse, M. (Creator), Knopp, T. (Creator), L'Huillier, N. (Creator), Light, A. (Creator), Lohmann, J. (Creator), Magic, M. (Creator), Miller, M. (Creator), Mitro, M. (Creator), Mujica, P. (Creator), Patterson, A. G. (Creator), Pokrywka, A. (Creator), Graham Raven, P. (Creator), Rudd, G. (Creator), Schubert, T. (Creator), Smrekar, M. (Creator), Šutić, G. (Creator), Thornton, C. (Creator), Wallis, L. (Creator), Wilde, D. (Creator) & Cathlow, R. (Creator), Zenodo, 2022

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