D-STEM: a Design led approach to STEM innovation

Anne Toomey, Veronika Kapsali

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

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    Abstract

    Advances in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) disciplines offer opportunities for designers to propose and make products with advanced, enhanced and engineered properties and functionalities. In turn, these advanced characteristics are becoming increasingly necessary as resources become ever more strained through 21st century demands, such as ageing populations, connected communities, depleting raw materials, waste management and energy supply. We need to make things that are smarter, make our lives easier, better and simpler. The products of tomorrow need to do more with less. The issue is how to maximize the potential for exploiting opportunities offered by STEM developments and how best to enable designers to strengthen their position within the innovation ecosystem. As a society, we need designers able to navigate emerging developments from the STEM community to a level that enables understanding and knowledge of the new material properties, the skill set to facilitate absorption into the design ‘toolbox’ and the agility to identify, manage and contextualise innovation opportunities emerging from STEM developments. This paper proposes the blueprint for a new design led approach to STEM innovation that begins to redefine studio culture for the 21st Century.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationA Matter of Design: Making Society through Science and Technology Proceedings of the 5th STS Italia Conference
    EditorsClaudio Coletta, Sara Colombo, Paolo Magaudda, Alvise Mattozzi, Laura Lucia Parolin, Lucia Rampino
    Place of PublicationMilan
    PublisherSTS Italia Publishing
    Pages425-438
    Number of pages1358
    ISBN (Print)9789078146056
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2014
    Event5th STS Italia Conference: Making Society through Science and Technology - Milan
    Duration: 1 Dec 2014 → …

    Conference

    Conference5th STS Italia Conference: Making Society through Science and Technology
    Period1/12/14 → …

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