Research Fields
The research projects at the IDR investigate forms of designed communication in the following four research fields: ‘Critical Knowledge Design’, ‘Social Design’, ‘Design and Rhetoric’ and ‘Design History’ as well as the project field ‘Entrepreneurship and Creative Economies’.
Critical Knowledge Design
The research field ‘Critical Knowledge Design’ analyses, visualises, and communicates complex datasets and information while also investigating the interactions between digital technologies and society. It focuses on questions such as how data generates and legitimises knowledge, and how digital technologies can both promote and jeopardise democratic processes and sustainable transformations.
In collaboration with civil society and public organisations, the research field develops visual tools for the collection, interpretation, and communication of data. In doing so, data is always understood as the product of social contexts, the conditions of which must be critically reflected upon during ist analysis, representation and interpretation. The research field combines interdisciplinary methods from data science and open-source intelligence (OSINT) with approaches from data visualisation, generative design and hermeneutic interpretation. The aim is to open up different perspectives on data, discuss counter-narratives, and situate data within broader social contexts.
Research field co-ordinator ‘Critical Knowledge Design’:
Social Design
The term ‘Social Design’ is used to describe a wide array of practices and research methods that explore the complex relationship between design and society.
Researchers at the IDR aim to critically study the broad field of ‘Social Design’ and map its new trajectories, as the discipline evolves to include new areas and practices. The team works on various social issues as well as emerging challenges and always strives for interdisciplinary work with different partners. The research field uses participatory design methods, creative techniques and ethnographic research to design inclusive and collaborative approaches that promote social justice and bring about positive change in society.
Research field co-ordinator ‘Social Design’:
Design and Rhetoric
Rhetoric, which is thousands of years old, holds great potential in terms of concepts for describing and implementing effective communication. The research field ‘Design and Rhetoric’ uses these rhetorical models to explore the practice of communication design.
The projects in this research field explore the very different effects of design from a rhetorical perspective: Not only the blatant advertising poster, but also the restrained signage of public transport and government agency forms are analysed under the aspect of impact-oriented communication.
Research field co-ordinator ‘Design and Rhetoric’:
Design History
Design history examines the context of origin, production, communication, consumption and impact of design as well as the resulting discourses. As such, it not only shapes design practice, but also links design and society, thus contributing to our understanding of human culture.
The research field ‘Design History’ analyses design as a cultural phenomenon. Previous focal points have included Swiss graphic design, interactions between visual culture and national identity, visual forms of historiography, visual communication and subculture as well as the impact of design history on design practice. To this end, theories and methods of document, book, exhibition and discourse analysis are applied to textual, visual and relational materials.
Research field co-ordinator ‘Design History’:
Project Field ‘Entrepreneurship and Creative Economies’ ECE
The project field of ‘Entrepreneurship and Creative Economies’ unlocks the transformative power of creativity, entrepreneurship and design. It explores the path to innovation and sustainable development in a dynamic, interconnected world for a fairer planet. The researchers implement projects that shape the future of entrepreneurship and the creative industries. They seek to understand how visionary individuals, artistic expression and sustainable business practices can reshape economies and drive positive social and environmental change. The project field is closely linked to the Master in Design at the HKB.
Project field co-ordinator ‘Entrepreneurship and Creative Economies’:
Research Field ‘Knowledge Visualization’ (2007–2026)
The projects in the research field ‘Knowledge Visualisation’ explored the visualisation and communication of data and information, as well as the design of interfaces. The focus was on making qualitative data visible: patient journeys, exhibitions, and interviews were investigated through new perspectives and brought to life using innovative visualisation approaches. The aim was not only to present information clearly, but also to generate new insights into the datasets and reveal underlying patterns and relationships.
Partners from the private sector and public administration collaborated with the IDR to gain a deeper understanding of their fields of activity, their operating contexts, and the needs and concerns of their customers and stakeholders. The resulting visualisations served as tools for analysis, communication, and knowledge generation.
Research Field ‘Environmental Communication Design’ (2007–2026)
The research field ‘Environmental Communication Design’ investigated the interplay between communication design and space, particularly in architectural contexts. The focus was on issues relating to signage – that is, the design of wayfinding and information systems – as well as the impact of colour on spatial perception and experience. Other key areas of research included the interaction between physical spaces, displays, and digital devices, as well as the communicative design of architectural processes.
BFH Research Group ‘Health Care Communication Design’ HCCD (2007–2025)
Since 2007, the interdisciplinary Health Care Communication Design (HCCD) research group at Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH) has carried out numerous research and development projects at the interface of design, communication, architecture, design and health. With the founding mandate for the Swiss Centre for Design and Health (SCDH) in December 2017, the HCCD research group took on a central role in the development of the SCDH and ensured the technical and operational connection to the BFH as a founding shareholder. The scientific work of the HCCD research group has now been fully integrated into the SCDH. With the integration of the research group into the SCDH, the HCCD's expertise has been preserved and will be continued in Switzerland's only technology competence centre for design research in the health sector.
The HCCD research group brought together researchers from five departments at BFH – Bern University of the Arts HKB, Health, Architecture, Economics and Medical Informatics – and worked on over 50 projects with partners from all over Switzerland on an interprofessional basis. Three key areas were addressed: (1) safety for patients and staff, (2) orientation and communication, and (3) long-term care.
Projects and studies were carried out with Curaviva Switzerland, the Insel Gruppe Bern, the Felix Platter Hospital in Basel, the Triemli City Hospital in Zurich, Domicil Bern, the Institute for Social Anthropology at the University of Bern and College M Bern, among others. As part of its service contracts, the research group also prepared expert reports on the communicative setting in hospitals, conducted inspections of model rooms and advised institutions on communication and architectural tenders.
