Design expert joins RMIT Europe

Design expert joins RMIT Europe

Professor Laurene Vaughan, a practising designer, researcher and educator, has joined RMIT’s European Innovation Hub in the role of Research Director.

Designing regenerative futures

With a diverse research background in the field of design and over 20 years’ experience at RMIT in Melbourne, Vaughan will continue the groundwork laid by Professor Wendy Steele to establish a regenerative futures direction at RMIT Europe.

According to Vaughan, design is fundamental to the vision of regenerative futures.

Given the complexity of the problems regenerative futures aims to address, the discipline of design offers creative and collaborative ways to reimagine future possibilities by working collaboratively with other disciplines, explains Vaughan who is from RMIT's School of Design.

"This is about taking a considered approach to addressing and imagining futures and how we can manifest them," she said.

"One of the things that's really interesting about regenerative futures is that it is future orientated.

"To regenerate is to adapt, change or renew in some way in order to be able to be in the future; it is not about looking back or returning to some idealised past.

"Regenerative futures accept where we are and that change is inevitable, but we can design our way into a preferred future."

28 August 2024

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Design as a relational discipline

Vaughan’s diverse research background has led her to see design as a relational discipline.

Design practitioners and researchers typically work with colleagues in other disciplines to achieve particular outcomes.

Beyond the relational aspect of working with other disciplinary colleagues, she has experience looking at the connection between design and other phenomena, including the design of place, design and interaction, and digital design.

"My current research looks at design and care or design as a practice of care, which fits into the current as well as our future directions into regenerative futures," said Vaughan.

Looking forward

Over the coming months, Vaughan will continue to explore her research interests while engaging with relevant European partners.

"I've recently been doing some research and work around regenerative futures and regenerative practices as being ultimately care practices; it is this regeneration and care that I really want to interrogate with partners," said Vaughan.

At RMIT Europe, Vaughan takes over from Professor Wendy Steele, the recent incumbent in the role of Research Director.

"I will continue to work on grant applications that we started together and carry on some of that work that Wendy has been doing," she said.

Vaughan is looking forward to spending a longer period in Barcelona, adding the Catalan capital to the diverse locations in which she has worked, including Japan, the US, the UK and Norway.

"I have been to Barcelona twice or three times a year for the last 10 years but always for short stints," said Vaughan.

"I’m looking forward to having that extended opportunity of working with the team in Europe, and being able to continue to collaborate and really make some solid plans."

Vaughan will also continue her work for RMIT's PRS Europe, a practice-based PhD symposium held twice annually, as well as her supervision of PhD candidates under the multidisciplinary doctoral networks REDI and CoDesign4Transitions.

Vaughan’s PhD candidates in CoDesign4Transitions will apply several sub-disciplines of design in their projects, including social design, co-design and design for sustainability, while engaging and interacting with stakeholders such as citizens, business and local government authorities.

 

Story: Hannah Raymond

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28 August 2024

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