Design and Creative Industries

Researchers from DSC’s design and creative industries domain work across all sectors in society, transforming the world and co-producing new knowledge in collaboration with our industry partners.

DSC has particular strengths in researching the relationships between culture and technology, the role of design in digital and automation and visa versa, sound design, social innovation and speculative hybrid futures. We also have a world-leading materials lab with garment design led by textiles experts who are researching the unique capabilities of materials innovation and future fashion with a focus on sustainability, safety and innovation. We also have a strong nonfiction lab research group and a sound and screen cultures research group.

Current Centres and Groups

Research impact

Upcoming Centres and Groups 2023

The following new Centre and Groups are planning to launch in early 2023. Be sure to revisit DSC Research or follow us on social media to hear more about launch events and how you can be involved. 

Centre of Digital Environments


Hybrid Futures


Design and Sonic Practice

The Design and Sonic Practice (DSP) Research Group is based in the School of Design, RMIT University. DSP researchers are active in sonic practices across art, design, engineering, health, music, digital media, life and earth sciences. Research and teaching by the group into these disciplines ranges from composition and design to theory, programming, scientific and medical research, public concerts and installations.


Designing Social Innovation

Designing Social Innovation Research Group foregrounds transdisciplinary creative practice research and design-led approaches to transformative social actions. This is guided by an ethos of pluralism and care. Social, cultural, technological, and ecological challenges are observed at local to planetary levels and are increasingly diverse and interconnected. This requires practitioners and researchers to collaborate beyond the boundaries of singular disciplinary expertise and perspective, and work closely with complexity. 


technology textures

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Contact us to discuss research collaborations, studying a research degree, or to find a research expert.

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CMIFF image credit: Fernanda Quilici Mola, PhD candidate, School of Fashion and Textiles.  

CAST image credit:  Clare McCracken and Aslam Akram, Substation Mural, 2012. Commissioned by Department of Transport and RMIT University. Jackson Hill, Diggers Rest and Holden Road, Melbourne. Photo care of the Sunbury Electrification Project.  

aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.

aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.