INTERROGATING D-STEM: A DESIGN LED APPROACH TO STEM INNOVATION

Design-STEM, or D-STEM was first described by the author in 2014, together with Dr Veronica Kapsali, as a new approach to design-led innovation that capitalised on the advances in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) domains. In particular, they focused on advances in materials science and their relevance to textiles and drew on their experience within higher education and industry funded research to develop their perspective.

Essentially, D-STEM uses existing design practice as a point of departure and is characterised by the following qualities: designing with advanced materials; designing advanced material systems; prototyping using advanced fabrication and designing products with advanced functionalities. D-STEM goes beyond the knowledge transfer of Design and STEM interdisciplinary collaboration and is an adaptation of the conventional design process and aims to merge the creative, opportunity seeking aspects of design with the systematic, experimental, knowledge seeking aspects of the STEM domains. A D-STEM designer can understand enough STEM to not only exploit a novel or emerging material, but is also able to absorb the knowledge into their design ‘toolbox’ and has the agility to manage and contextualise innovation emerging from the STEM communities.

Now, in 2018, it is time to revisit these proposals for a new studio culture that could support 21st century designers who are challenged to understand and work collaboratively across many differing disciplines, both from within the broad field of design and also beyond that into highly contrasting fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

This work presents a series of case studies that address aspects of smart textiles and wearable technology,. The methodologies used are questioned through the lens of D-STEM thinking in order to interrogate the skill set of the 21st century smart textiles practitioner and identify future considerations for design education.