Transition Design research addresses a wide range of complex, wicked problems, and involves deep stakeholder engagement.
Research Projects
Transition Design research supports communities, institutions, organizations, and cities in addressing the complex, wicked problems that act as barriers to their transitions toward more sustainable and desirable futures. By convening stakeholder groups connected to a wicked problem, Transition Design research leverages the knowledge and lived experience already present within the system. Through this process, stakeholders collaboratively develop an understanding of both the system and the problem itself, enabling the creation of integrated, systemic solutions that can accelerate the transition toward more just, equitable, and resilient futures.
Research Tutorials
TDI faculty and researchers conduct tutorials with research teams to bring a systems approach to their projects. Our expert facilitators are available to conduct online tutorial sessions with external research teams seeking to integrate aspects of the Transition Design approach into their work, or to adopt a more systemic perspective. These tutorials provide coaching on framing research from a systems perspective, incorporating Transition Design tools and methods, and analyzing findings through a systemic lens. Research teams receive feedback, guidance, and a structured space for discussion, helping them refine their approach and develop more holistic, integrated research outcomes.
Doctoral Research
Since 2015, doctoral students in Transition Design have been actively contributing to the scholarship and evolution of the field. Their research focuses on advancing the Transition Design approach itself, exploring its theoretical foundations, methodologies, and applications in addressing complex, long-term challenges. Doctoral projects cover a wide range of topics, including sustainability transitions, design for systems-level change, ecological restoration, and social justice. Through their work, these students expand and refine Transition Design as a field, generating new knowledge and insights that inform both academic inquiry and practical application.