Highlights Design

Images of various research projects at the IDE
Images of various research projects at the IDE

    «Besides many great IDE research projects, the year 2021 was marked by the strategic further development of design research. We laid important foundations and can now focus on implementation.»

    Dr. Anna Lisa Martin-Niedecken, Head of the Institute for Design Research (IDE)

        Scientific, Artistic and Creative Output and Impact

        In 2021, DDE researchers were active in manifold ways despite the restrictions imposed due to the pandemic. In addition to pursuing existing projects, preparing new project submissions and fulfilling teaching commitments, they published numerous articles, attended international exhibitions and conferences and initiated new collaborations.

        → Overview «Scientific, Artistic and Creative Output and Impact»

          Promotion of Talents and Careers

          The Junior Research in Design Programme took place for the seventh consecutive time. Start-up funding was used to support four project ideas initiated by IDE alumni and research associates. Applications are reviewed and selected for funding by R&D Council.

          → Overview «Promotion of Talents and Careers»

            Cooperation and Internationality

            The «ExerGetic» project involves cooperation partners from Austria, Canada and Switzerland. The project budget is just below 2.1 million euros. This is one of the first ZHdK research projects to receive funding from the EU’s AAL Programme, which supports projects exploring the theme of ageing populations in the digital world.

            → Overview «Cooperation and Internationality»

              External Funding

              In 2021, two large-scale SNSF projects were completed: «Research Video» and «Swiss Graphic Design & Typography Revisted». Of six ongoing Innosuisse projects, «A Playful Exergame Training Intervention» was successfully completed. Newly initiated projects received support from the Gebert Rüf Foundation, BRIDGE Proof of Concept and other foundations.

              → Overview «Research Projects»

                Noteworthy

                Prof. Dr. Sarah Owens, head of the Subject Area Visual Communication, teaches and researches the history, practice and communication of visual artefacts. Sarah was awarded the 2021 Swiss Grand Prix of Design for her achievements as a designer and scholar and was appointed President of the Swiss Design Network in the same year.

                Verena Zieger, a member of the Interaction Design faculty, completed a BRIDGE-funded project and successfully transferred her findings to the start-up BeWear. Thanks to the development of a simple 3D body scan based on smartphone technology, customised clothing will be produced in the future with the help of algorithms, thereby contributing to protecting the environment.

                Noteworthy

                  Immersion

                  The Subject Area Knowledge Visualization was invited to present two research projects on glacier and climate issues - «Expedition 2 Grad» and «VR Glacier Experience» - at the 2021 Venice Architecture Biennale. The two projects were also the official Swiss contribution to the Climate Change Conference in Glasgow at the COP26 Cryosphere Pavilion in Geneva.

                  The «Filming, Researching, Annotating» provides an introduction to a novel software and publication form based on annotated videos. The handbook is the result of the SNSF project «Research Video». This applied research project was conducted out by the Institute for the Performing Arts and Film together with the Subject Area Cast / Audiovisual Media.

                  Immersion

                    Discover

                    In 2021, Dr. Beat Suter, Dr. Mela Kocher and René Bauer edited and published «Narrative Mechanics». Their previous volume, «Games & Rules» (2018), was also published by transcript. An evaluation concluded that, with 21,165 downloads, the volume is one of the “Best performers” in the Open Library Media Studies programme.

                    «Swiss Graphic Design Histories» offers a unique overview of the Swiss graphic design landscape based on historical research. The volume is the outcome of the SNSF-Sinergia research project «Swiss Graphic Design and Typography Revisited», in which ZHdK participated with six other Swiss universities.

                    Prof. Dr. Karmen Franinovic is the DDE representative in the cross-departmental «Transdisciplinary Artistic PhD Programme» and responsible for supervising artistic PhD students. The programme promotes cooperation between all five ZHdK departments and their specific research approaches.

                    Discover

                      Experience

                      Curated by Maike Thies and Prof. Christian Iseli, the REFRESH #4 festival was held from 10 to 14 November at Zurich University of the Arts. Under the title «New Realities: Design – Arts – Technology» the risks and opportunities of digitalisation for design and the arts were discussed in keynote lectures, master classes, panels and an exhibition.

                      The online conference «Slash / sterbesettings.ch» was held in March and brought together various perspectives strongly effective at the end of life. In the context of the associated SNSF project «Sterbesettings», an artistic contribution by Prof. Bitten Stetter will also be shown at the Friedhof Forum in Zurich until 14 June 2022 as part of the exhibition «The End – My Friend? Umsorgt in den Tod».

                      DDE researchers are involved in all three innovation projects approved as part of the Digitisation Initiative of Zurich Universities (DIZH). The two health-related projects «You+Care» and «ExerUp!» are being carried out in cooperation with ZHAW and various practice partners. The «Digital Planet» project is dedicated to an exhibition at the interface of science, design and art.

                      Experience