Three Dundee projects have been recognised by the World Design Congress and will be presented at its 2025 conference in London this week.
All three projects are run in partnership by the University of Dundee and V&A Dundee and have each secured publication from the global World Design Congress – out of a total of 41 papers accepted.
The Congress looks to support projects which are driving change and tackling the climate crisis through design.
Design Hopes is a £4.5m Design Museum Future Observatory Arts and Humanities Research Council funded project led by Professors Mel Woods, from the University of Dundee, and Paul Rodgers from the University of Strathclyde, with V&A Dundee as a partner.
The project has been recognised for its development of a speculative board game as an educational tool to explore a circular economy for NHS Scotland.
Meanwhile, Design for Scotland is a project seeking to explore how to develop a strategic and focused approach to supporting design nationally, by undertaking research and engagement with partners and the design sector.
As part of the project, students from across the University participated in an intensive Design Sprint at V&A Dundee to generate new ideas around plastic reusage, running in parallel with the museum’s plastics exhibition.
The third project to be recognised is also part of Design for Scotland, and looks to transform the V&A Dundee Residency Studio into a policy lab.
This will be a collaboration with University staff and students, government partners, and the wider design sector.
Funded by Creative Scotland, this project celebrates the value of Scotland’s design economy, which is worth over £7 billion and employs 118,000 people, with 40% of charities, private companies, and public sector organisations now hosting in-house design teams.
Together, the three projects highlight the breadth of collaborative work in the city across design research, education and policy. Papers on the projects will be published in October.
Dr Jen Ballie holds a dual appointment as Reader at the University’s Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, and Head of Design Research at V&A Dundee.
Dr Ballie, who led on all three projects, said, “These projects are all collaborations facilitated by the University of Dundee and V&A Dundee partnership.
“Showcasing them on the global stage at the World Design Congress highlights how design research in the public realm can inspire others working with communities, healthcare professionals, policymakers, industry, and education to address the interconnected health of people and planet.”
The World Design Congress
The World Design Congress, hosted by the Design Council in partnership with the World Design Organization, is a prestigious biannual global event.
It brings together leading designers, business leaders, policymakers, researchers, and educators from around the world.
It has returned to London for the first time in over 50 years, taking place from 9-10 September 2025, at the Barbican Centre.
Under the urgent theme ‘Design for Planet’, this Congress will directly address the climate and nature crisis.
It aims to harness the immense power of design to drive a regenerative future by focusing on reducing carbon emissions, increasing biodiversity, and shifting from extractive to regenerative design paradigms.
It also intends to inspire, challenge, and mobilise a better, more regenerative future, with an ambitious legacy goal to upskill one million designers in green design skills by 2030.
For more information, see the World Design Congress’ website.
Photograph: Jen Ballie - credit Grant Anderson