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

Centre for Materials Innovation and Future Fashion

CMIFF brings together senior researchers in material technology, design and enterprise research within the School of Fashion & Textiles to research, develop and apply design and materials innovation to address real world problems of health, wellbeing, protection, performance, sustainability and cultural experience.

ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society (ADM+S)

The ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society (ADM+S) is a cross-disciplinary, national research centre, which aims to create the knowledge and strategies necessary for responsible, ethical, and inclusive automated decision-making. Funded by the Australian Research Council from 2020 to 2026, ADM+S is hosted at RMIT University with nodes located at eight other Australian universities, and partners around the world.

Contemporary Art and Social Transformation

CAST produces art research that critically engages with social and public spheres with a particular interest in how artistic practices intersect with issues of equity, access and democracy. CAST is a hub for critical thinking, collaboration and the exchange of ideas, knowledge dissemination, practice-led artistic research and socially-engaged art practice. CAST engages on local and international levels by collaborating with practitioners, communities, industry, and government partners.

Creative Agency

The Creative Agency Research Lab is a thriving hub for multi-disciplinary studies of creativity across the life-course. We are an open community of researchers, educators, creative practitioners, and industry professionals who share a commitment to creativity as a catalyst for social change in response to global challenges. Our members are actively developing new ways to address the most pressing issues of our times, including climate change, socio-economic inequality, the mental health crisis, and rapid advances in science and technology.

non/fictionLab

The non/fictionLab is an interdisciplinary research ecology bringing together creative experimentation, critical practice and social engagement: we aim to reimagine and transform contemporary realities through language, mediations, poetics and collaborations. The non/fictionLab is an interdisciplinary Research Group in the School of Media and Communication at RMIT University. Closely aligned with the discipline of Writing and Publishing, the Lab focuses on research into writing and allied creative arts and design practices.

Research impact

Autistic artist shines positive light on bats and her connection to them

Upside Down People is a multimedia performance that explores the sensory and social world of autistic artist and RMIT PhD researcher Sara Kian-Judge.

Nanodiamonds could hold key to cool clothing

Researchers from RMIT University are using nanodiamonds to create smart textiles that can cool people down faster.

Learn more

Regional bank closures are further disadvantaging remote First Nations communities: report

An RMIT-led report has found remote First Nations communities are particularly disadvantaged by local bank closures due to the lack of affordable and reliable internet.

Read about this report

Upcoming: Centre of Digital Ecosystems

The new Centre of Digital Ecosystems is planning to launch in 2024. Be sure to revisit DSC Research or follow us on social media to hear more about launch events and how you can be involved.

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PhD and Masters by Research

Find out more about studying a research degree at RMIT and our current graduate scholarships

Research partnerships

RMIT builds partnerships to have a positive impact in the world. We form multi-disciplinary teams with government, community, industry and researchers to deliver innovative solutions.

Ethics and integrity

Learn more about how the Research Ethics and Integrity team facilitate ethical and excellent research at RMIT

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.