Strategic Design Research Journal

Designing Collaborative Emergence

Sheila Passos — 2026-04-24

Design practice is inherently relational, shaped by encounters with diverse ways of knowing that influence how problems are defined, solutions envisioned, and legitimacy attributed. Conventional approaches to collaboration, often framed through coordination and consensus, prove insufficient when participants operate from fundamentally different epistemologies, risking the reproduction of hierarchies or the silencing of alternative knowledges. This article examines design’s potential as epistemic mediation, understood as a situated capacity to engage across difference without erasing it. Methodologically, it is grounded in a critical review of literature in design and anthropology, articulated with over two decades of professional practice in collaborative contexts and with the early theoretical foundations of ongoing doctoral research. The investigation is therefore conceptual and exploratory, aiming to provide a vocabulary for engaging with epistemic dimensions of design practice rather than reporting empirical findings. Its main contribution is the articulation of three analytical dynamics - Horizontal Epistemic Interfaces, Emergent Attention, and Contextual Amplification - which are proposed as conceptual orientations to reframe collaboration as a site of epistemic care, expanding design research’s capacity to foster more situated and plural forms of collective world-making.

Integrating Service Design in Corporate Architecture

Mariane Unanue — 2026-04-24

Service Design is an interdisciplinary approach that structures all aspects of a service—people, communication, and infrastructure—making it more useful, desirable, and effective for users and providers alike. This article explores how Service Design principles can be integrated into corporate architecture, focusing on creating user-centered workspaces. Through a literature review and a practical workshop conducted with employees at the XXXX, the study demonstrates how Service Design tools can contribute to corporate workspace design by fostering user engagement and improving workflow, communication, and spatial functionality. The findings suggest that incorporating Service Design early in the architectural process enriches the design outcome by aligning spatial design with organizational objectives, employee needs, and service quality improvements.

A Systematic Review of Future Scenario Projection with Artificial Intelligence through the Strategic Design Perspective for risk Management in Extreme Events

Juan Pablo Davila Boeira — 2026-04-24

This article explores how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can contribute to future scenario projection through the lens of Strategic Design, anticipating and mitigating future challenges in the context of transformations. It is argued that technological advances and the accumulation of data offer valuable tools for predicting future scenarios and planning strategic interventions. Through a systematic literature review, the study seeks to investigate the integration of Strategic Design with AI and Big Data as a proactive approach to dealing with extreme events such as natural disasters, health crises, and socio-environmental imbalances. The intersection between Artificial Intelligence technology and strategic design makes adopting more effective preventive measures possible, guaranteeing a more resilient and sustainable response to imminent challenges. The analysis reveals that while AI and Big Data provide advanced tools for analyzing and projecting future scenarios, interdisciplinary collaboration and Strategic Design are essential for translating these projections into concrete and effective actions. The study contributes to the literature by providing an in-depth understanding of how the synergy between technology, design, and risk management can facilitate overcoming social and environmental challenges. However, the importance of an informed and adaptable strategic outlook in the information age is reiterated.

Leveraging Generative AI for Strategic Design Visualization and Innovation in Early-Stage of Product Development Among Students

Muhammad Jameel Mohamed Kamil — 2026-04-24

Generative models in Artificial Intelligence (AI), such as Stable Diffusion and ChatGPT, are increasingly employed across diverse fields, including product design, for tasks like shape recognition and design creation. The convergence of physical and digital realms is emerging as a prominent trend in art and design. This trend underscores generative models' ability to bridge offline and online environments in creative endeavours. This article aims to investigate the potential of integrating generative image AI into a strategic design visualization process among product design students. Using image-based research analysis and semi-structured interviews, this study involved five product design students as respondents. The findings highlight that integrating generative AI tools, particularly the Copilot Bing Image Creator, significantly enhances product design education. It improves students' creativity and streamlines the design process. This integration not only closes the gap between creative concepts and practical applications but also offers a robust framework for evaluating AI-generated content. Ultimately, it enhances the quality, practicality, and comprehension of design processes among students. This study underscores the transformative potential of generative AI tools in strategic design process, showcasing their effectiveness in fostering creativity, efficiency, and design quality.

Partnerships for Innovation in Industrial Design Education

Melise Peruchini — 2026-04-24

This research investigates the partnership between university-industry through sponsored projects within the scope of the Triple Helix Innovation Model. It is specifically anchored in intangible conditions of the model, identified in the existing literature on the subject. The objective is to discern best practices aimed at fostering innovation within the domain of industrial design education. Data was collected firstly through semi-structured interviews, complemented by participant observation and desk research for triangulation. The data were examined by thematic analysis with AtlasTI. The findings reveal key aspects of these partnerships, emphasizing the collaboration and teamwork, a market-oriented culture, involving real-world applicability, general feedback, and early technology access. The students’ skill development is also frequently mentioned. Certain aspects such as the involvement of civil society, which is more common in university-government partnerships, and intellectual property protection, appear to receive comparatively less attention in the partnership.

Mass Customization as a Positioning Strategy in the Fashion Sector

Ana Julia Dal Forno — 2026-04-24

The growing appreciation for products that express identity and individuality has driven the adoption of mass customization as a competitive strategy. This study analyzes its application in a handmade sneaker startup in Blumenau, Brazil, through action research adapted to the Kumar model and the Mass Customization and Personalization Effectiveness Index (MCPEI). The investigation mapped the process from initial contact to after-sales, incorporating artisanal techniques—such as hand painting, airbrushing, rhinestones, and recycled fabrics—and proposing organizational improvements. Results indicate productivity gains, reduced rework, and increased loyalty, linked to stronger brand identity and social media engagement. Theoretically, the study shows that classic mass customization frameworks can be adapted to small-scale, low-automation contexts, when supported by standardized processes, quality control, and active customer interaction. As a limitation, this is a single case study with predominantly qualitative data, and replication in other creative sectors is recommended. Findings reinforce that customization, beyond aesthetic differentiation, acts as a positioning and innovation strategy, fostering lasting emotional connections between consumers and brands. The study contributes to the Strategic Design field by framing mass customization as a strategic practice that links operational structuring with symbolic and experiential innovation.

Strategic Design Framework for Personalized Assistive Products

Ana Lya Moya Ferrari — 2026-04-24

Assistive Technology (AT) orthoses pose socio-technical challenges, with high abandonment rates linked to poor aesthetics and conventional manufacturing limits. For users with motor impairment, specialized 3D scanning is often hindered by the critical technical barrier of maintaining limb position, restricting access to personalized design benefits. This study proposes a Strategic Design Framework centered on virtual limb repositioning, an intangible design artefact, to overcome this limitation. Showcased in a case study of a male teenager with spastic Cerebral Palsy, the methodology establishes an interdisciplinary-based approach where designer and occupational therapist collaboratively validate the limb’s final functional pose using Blender software. This collaborative process, aligned with co-design principles, reconfigures the AT development process to prioritize user agency and aesthetic personalization, demonstrating a viable proposal for systemic intervention for AT provision, advancing sociotechnical innovation through the strategic alignment of clinical expertise and design tools.

Editorial

Guilherme Englert Corrêa Meyer — 2026-04-24