Holistic Approach in Design Research

Abstract

Abstract We are going through uncertain times due to the “polycrisis”, a context which makes us wonder about the role of Design in simplifying complexity into projects with a 5P perspective. The hypothesis is that the figure of a Transitional Industrial Designer (TID) is emerging to support complex industrial sectors such as Packaging, someone able to interact with all stakeholders, manage digital tools and design project flows. The article illustrates the Packaging Innovation Observatory and Spoke 1 – MICS PNRR Project, in which Design — in terms of process-oriented design research with a systemic approach — is a crucial element in bringing different areas of expertise together to achieve sustainable and circular solutions. In addition, a mapping was carried out of the Italian Universities that deal with packaging design, in terms of the approaches and tools used: it shows that the design methods they apply are contributing to training a Transitional Industrial Packaging Designer, who can brings these practices into the manufacturing sector, in a time lapse closer to the market time.