Design Thinking

Solving the right problem and truly understanding user needs is a prerequisite for the creation of successful products and systems. The group has significant expertise in tools, methods and approaches for understanding user needs and behaviours, problem framing and representation, user-centred design and cocreation. Current research interests include neurocognition, prototyping methods, understanding the affordances of digital and physical media and creating the prototyping handbook. 

Contact Professor Ben Hicks or Mark Goudswaard to find out more about our design thinking research and to collaborate with us. 

Systems Thinking

Systems Thinking analyses how different parts of the world, including humans and the systems they build, are highly interconnected. These interactions can be complex, and their consequences surprising or unforeseen. This ‘joined-up’ approach to engineering provides new perspectives which can help create a generation of safer, more resilient, sustainable and affordable solutions.  

From validating safety critical software to designing better public health interventions, we are collaborating with a wide range of public, private and third sector partners, including EDF at Hinkley Point, the Connected Places Catapult, the Energy Institute, and Local Government.    

We research both systems engineering and soft systems approaches; using stakeholder engagement, systems mapping and group model building to understand the structure of ‘wicked’ socio-technical problems and co-create better solutions. 

Contact Dr John May  or Dr Ges Rosenberg to find out more about our systems thinking research and to collaborate with us. 

Design Technologies

We create technologies, tools, and workflows that redefine our ability to design, manufacture, operate, and dispose of the next generation of products and machines, from consumer-grade to high-value. 

Working across the physical and digital, we work with industry to develop game-changing ways to generate, fabricate, prototype, and simulate throughout the development process, empowering engineers to do more, faster, with less. 

Our current priorities include spatial engineering and immersive toolchains, AI and data-enabled design, model-based systems engineering, generative technologies, design optimisation (inc. Marginal gains), Design for X, remanufacture and human-centric design tools. 

Contact Dr Chris Snider to find out more and work with us. 

Digital Manufacturing

The digital transformation of manufacturing concerns not only individual manufacturing processes but the entire manufacturing system and value stream. Our research involves creating manufacturing, production and supply chain processes that consider the entire Circular Economic Value Stream. 

Our research and consulting include agent-based manufacturing systems, data-driven approaches for manufacturing systems optimisation, value stream modelling for remanufacture, supply chain modelling, Digital Twin meta-modelling – cost-benefit analysis, Digital Threads, and deployment architectures. 

Contact Dr James Gopsill to find out more about our research and opportunities to work with us. 

Energy Systems

The creation of tools and methods for the specification, design, optimisation and operation of high performance and self- sufficient energy systems. Current research concerns energy systems for well-being, humanitarian energy access, microgrids, design optimisation of hybrid renewable systems. 

Contact Dr Sam Williamson to find out more and discuss opportunities to work with us. 

City Infrastructure Systems

Our research seeks new ways to maximise social, economic and environmental benefits from existing and future urban infrastructure.     

Working with partners in the public, private and third sector, we use city data, simulation and mathematical models, such as digital twins, to diagnose urban challenges, analyse infrastructure performance, and support the design, operation and integration of city infrastructure as a ‘system-of-systems’.  

From the deployment of sensors and advances to the Internet of Things to Smart City governance and digital tools for urban planning, our research covers a range of application to improve the quality of our built environment, empowering citizens, policy makers and engineers.  

Contact Dr Neil Carhart to find out more about our research in this area and to collaborate with us.