Social Design Institute Meet the researcher: Alison Prendiville
- Written byCat Cooper
- Published date 22 February 2022
Social Design Institute Publications are an open series of position papers, presenting a diverse range of ideas and viewpoints from UAL researchers on social and sustainable design; and working papers sharing new research insights. The series reflects the wide scope of social and sustainable design across multiple contexts and subject areas - from fashion and textiles to cultural practices and crime prevention.
A View of Design within Transdisciplinary Research: Diagnostic Development for AMR (antimicrobial resistance) in Human and Animal settings in India
Dr Alison Prendiville is Professor in Service Design at London College of Communication, UAL and an award-winning educator with extensive teaching experience at undergraduate and postgraduate level encompassing service, product and strategic design. She is co-Investigator for the Pharma-Factory project, an EU Horizon 2020 collaboration involving 5 biotech SMEs and 4 academic institutions, investigating how Plant Molecular Farming (PMF) and plant biotechnology can be used to manufacture products for medical and veterinary use. And she has been working on ESRC funded research exploring Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in humans and animals in India, in the transdisciplinary project DOSA: Diagnostics for a One Health and User Driven Solutions in AMR. A major public health hazard, microbial-resistant bacteria are on the rise globally.
From this background, her paper A View of Design within Transdisciplinary Research: Diagnostic Development for AMR (antimicrobial resistance) in Human and Animal settings in India [PDF 542KB] identifies that design can play a meaningful role in transdisciplinary research, which is increasingly called for in dealing with complex and uncontrollable challenges such as sustainability, climate change and global inequalities.
Based on her AMR research experience and a review of wider literature, the paper showcases how design facilitates the co-creation of knowledge in diverse academic teams and social settings, with specific reference to how this worked on the DOSA project.
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- Read Alison’s paper A View of Design within Transdisciplinary Research: Diagnostic Development for AMR (antimicrobial resistance) in Human and Animal settings in India [PDF 542KB]
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UAL Social Design Institute
Championing research and practice in social design and design for sustainability, UAL Social Design Institute develops and uses research insights to inform and change how designers and organisations design. Its mission is to make a positive social and environmental difference.
The Institute’s focus areas are value and valuation through design, systems and design, and policy contexts and implications. It works closely with colleagues across UAL including the Centre for Circular Design, Centre for Sustainable Fashion and Design Against Crime Research Centre.
The Social Design Institute developed the methodology for the Design Council’s Design Economy 2021 and recently launched its first short course, Introduction to Social Design. The Institute is leading a new scoping study to help account for the value of UK culture and heritage in decision-making; and recently published a report evaluating the MAKE at Story Garden project.