ABSTRACT
This chapter shows that in the context of research impact and creating meaningful research partnerships, designers contribute a necessary depth of expertise in design research methods and a critical skillset – specifically in co-design, participatory design, collaborative design, consensus design – to what is an underrepresented area of research co-design. The case studies presented are positioned in design research and span the contexts of technology innovation in youth mental health, industrial design research and education in the corporate sector with global outreach, and a digital innovation project in teacher education. One of the key determining factors contributing to establishing trust and a meaningful collaboration was in the way the first case study applied principles of dialogic engagement and reversal of expertise to fully embrace a partner-led approach to determining the research focus. For successful collaborations or partnerships, it is important that all relevant stakeholders have a common frame of reference to begin defining a shared goal.
