AHRC Design Exchange Partnerships: Design the Green Transition

The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) is seeking to explore the potential of design thought leadership for the green transition through the establishment of a national Design Exchange Partnerships (DEPs) network. Building upon the successes of the pilot cohort, the first full round of DEPs will comprise up to twenty distinct but complementary design-led projects addressing specific challenges in the context of coastal and island communities

DEPs are three-way collaborative projects which seek to demonstrate tangible impact on local communities by stimulating the real-world application of high quality arts and humanities-led design research to address challenges related to achieving green transition goals. DEPs aim to:

• Stimulate strategic partnerships that support career development and the development of hybrid skills
• Increase the diversity of voices and actors consulted in and contributing to addressing the climate crisis
• Enable the development of new products and services that have a positive impact in the real-world.

For this round, AHRC are focusing on the green transition challenges faced by the UK’s island and coastal communities. In particular, they are keen to see this in places where investment can make the biggest difference to everyday life, for example, areas that experience high levels of poverty and deprivation. Projects may focus on any challenges or areas that will support progress towards green transition goals, including but not limited to any combination of:

• Human, such as improving the design and delivery of green initiatives to more effectively support behaviour change
• Technical, such as design or development of new low or zero carbon building solutions
• Economic or commercial, such as redesign of markets to reduce costs
• Structural, such as infrastructure planning and decarbonisation provision.

The project should demonstrate human-centred design research processes. Applicants can include activities to:

• Develop high-value innovation opportunities and define what makes a desirable, fit-for-purpose solution
• Create ideas for new or significantly improved products or services
• Test and improve ideas by using fast, low-cost visuals, prototypes or simulations
• Clearly communicate ideas ready for further investment, and research and development activity
• Understand human motivations and behaviour through, for example, observation, interviews, role-play and workshops.

Projects should demonstrate clear pathways to measurable outcomes of benefit to all partners both within the 12-month project period and beyond.

Researchers and supervisors must be based at a UK research organisation that is eligible for UK Research and Innovation funding.

Each project must involve:

• One early career arts and humanities design research associate (including those undertaking doctoral studies in an arts and humanities design-led discipline)
  • for this opportunity, AHRC are taking a flexible approach to defining early career, and will accept proposals including research associates at other career stages who can justify the value of this project to their own development. This position is open to job share arrangements
• At least one academic supervisor
• At least one non-academic organisation with a specific challenge relevant to the overarching theme of ‘design the green transition’, which can be addressed through the ongoing application of design-led research carried out by the research associate
  • Non-academic partners must be either a:
    • micro or small and medium-sized enterprise-sized, UK registered business, charity or not-for-profit
    • similarly sized department of a public sector organisation.

The full economic cost of the project can be up to £40,000, plus a five to 10% non-academic partner organisation contribution. AHRC will fund 80% of the full economic cost.

Projects may start from 1 February 2023 but must commence no later than 14 February 2023. All projects must be concluded no later than 31 January 2024.

Applications must be submitted to the Design Exchange Portal (Design Exchange Partnerships (grantplatform.com)_ by 30 November 2022 at 5pm.

Further information  regarding the call can be found here: Design Exchange Partnerships: design the green transition – UKRI

Information Workshop

AHRC are holding a Round 1 launch workshop on the 12 September 2022 which will provide an opportunity to hear more about the aims and application process of DEPs. For this round we are focusing on the green transition challenges faced by the UK’s island and coastal communities. In particular, we are keen to see this in places where investment can make the biggest difference to everyday life, for example areas that experience high levels of poverty and deprivation, or that otherwise suffer from stunted productivity, lack of employment opportunities, poor community cohesion, or lack of local agency.

This event will enable you to :

• identify whether the scheme is a good fit for your project or partnership
• hear more about the opportunities and common pitfalls of academic, industry or public sector collaborations
• receive in-depth guidance on the application process
• ask questions of the panel (including representatives from AHRC, Future Observatory and KTN)

To register for the online event please visit: Design Exchange Partnerships: design the green transition Tickets, Mon 12 Sep 2022 at 10:00 | Eventbrite