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Transformation Design Research Group

The research group ‘Transformation Design’ is oriented towards challenges and opportunities in the context of socio-ecological transformation. We understand design research as an inherently inter- and transdisciplinary research approach that reacts to and helps determine social change. 

Design Management Introduction

Questions of society's future viability, sustainability, digitalization and the role of design determine the approaches and methods of our research. Subject areas such as socio-digital inequalities, regenerative design, digital cultures, feminist futures, digital and planetary commons. In participatory and collaborative projects, we address significant societal changes and upheaval.

Design – and thus design research – has always been deeply influenced by social changes: To the extent that societies change, so do discourses, references and practices in design. In research, we are increasingly challenged to act responsibly and normatively in terms of social and ecological sustainability. In our research, we align our actions as a contribution to the long-term well-being of human and non-human actors. In the context of this responsibility, we increasingly understand and practice design in its transformative potential. We put this in relation to new complex interdependencies and the diversity of actors with whom and for whom we design and develop.

Blog

Blog Transformation Design

Transformation Design

Blog and News from our Research Group

News

Social Design Network Conference 2025

Social Design Network Conference 2025

The 2025 Social Design Network Conference will take place from 18-20 September at Lucerne School of Design, Film and Art in Emmenbrücke.

Podcast Purple Code

Purple Code

Bianca Herlo, Head of the Research Group Transformation Design, is also a Co-Host of the «Purple Code» Podcast.

Die Zusammenarbeit zwischen der Hochschule Luzern – Design Film Kunst und der Gemeinde Emmen wird gestärkt.

Zukunft gestalten

Lucerne School of Design, Film and Art and the municipality of Emmen strengthen their collaboration in a renewed Letter of Intent.

Research Group and Its Publications

Current Projects

Accelerating the pursuit of the SDGs in Swiss design education: Design Action Labs

This project is funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation. It explores how Swiss design schools serve their local communities and design education's potential to accelerate the pursuit of the SDGs. The project aims at fostering learning to better support schools and communities in advancing the SDGs

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Collaborative Exploration in Eco-Social Design: Fostering Cross-Cultural Insights (XPLORE-ESD)

This project examines design curricula focused on socio-ecological transformation. Through comparative analyses and collaborative curriculum development, we strengthen knowledge exchange between HSLU and the National Institute of Design (NID) in India.

Menschenmenge

IDN - Eco-Social Design for Urban Sustainability Transitions

This project will explore and map collaborations between local authorities and the social innovation ecosystem in Lucerne. It aims to enhance our knowledge and network within social innovation activities, focusing on their potential and challenges in sustainable urban transitions.

Interdisziplinäres Team arbeitet im Büro

Cocreation Toolbox for interdisciplinarity

Cross-disciplinary approaches are seen as central to addressing global challenges. This project aims to capture transferrable knowledge about interdisciplinarity.

Anura League

Anura-League

Our prosperity and our survival depend directly on intact biodiversity. To protect it, we need young people to stand up for it. Anura-League is a game aimed at young people, that gets them excited about biodiversity.

Illustration mit zwei interagierenden Menschen

VA-People, Experiences, Practices, Routines (VA-PEPR)

The VA PEPR projects looks into how voice assistants change our practices and routines in the home.

Featured Publications

Design als Haltung. Handlungsfelder jenseits des Kommerziellen.
By Ulrike Brückner & Bianca Herlo, 2024.

Change Agents. Blueprints for Interinstitutional Collaborations in Social Design.
By Bori Fehér, Ruth-Helene Melioranski, Ariel Guersenzvaig, Bianca Herlo, Guim Espelt Estopà, Eva Liisa Kubinyi, Teresa Palmieri & Jonathan Ventura, 2024.

Exploring the potential of Off-the-Shelf tools as Digital Probes: Appropriation of a Mobile Diary App.
By Aysun Aytaç, Sabine Junginger & Jon Rogers, 2024.In Design Issues, 40 (3), 18-36.

Beteiligung interkulturell gestalten. Ein Lesebuch zu partizipativer Stadtentwicklung.
By Sabine Foraita, Bianca Herlo & Axel Vogelsang (Hrsg.), 2022.

Prototypes as agents of transition: The case of DIY wireless technology for advancing community digital sovereignty.
By Hagit Keyser, Elisabeth Calderón-Lüning & Andreas Unteidig, 2022. In Journal for Peer Production (15: Transition).

Workshops, Panels and more

Panel The Future Of Knowledge

Who owns free knowledge?

On April 10th 2025 Bianca Herlo and Andreas Unteidig co-hosted the panel «The Future of the Knowledge Commons», as part of the conference «Who Owns Free Knowledge?», organized by Weizenbaum Institut and Wikimedia Deutschland e.V.

Filterlist Projects «Design & Management» (Partially German)

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Instructions for using the project list

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