Library

Solar material mapping: Wonky Brick

This research report maps the landscapes of material re-use in building and construction in the UK - from sites of demolition, policy documents, and material banks, to the grading of so-called ‘wonky bricks’, and the future certification of re-use through retrofit materials at testing centres.

Design Researchers in Residence 2023/24 SOLAR

This publication features the work of the 2023/24 Design Researchers in Residence. It accompanies an exhibition staged at the Design Museum from June to September 2024. This year's theme, Solar emerges out of an uneasy dualism in our relationship with the sun. For as long as there have been humans, the sun has been considered a life force, an energy source and a cultural figure. Throughout their residency at the Design Museum, this year's cohort locate the role of designers and researchers in continual dialogue with how we see ourselves in relation to the burning star at the centre of the solar system. Design Researchers in Residence is Future Observatory’s programme for emerging design researchers hosted at the Design Museum.

Low-carbon Homes: Housing construction for the green transition

Although the construction sector is committed to meeting net zero targets, barriers to adopting the necessary strategies to achieve this still exist. This report compiles surveyed experiences from construction industry professionals, designers, policy makers and researchers, to better understand how the systemic changes necessary might be catalysed.

Designing the Green Transition UK fashion interventions to implement a circular fashion ecosystem: upstream

This research report has a focus on broad themes across fashion supply chain steps of design, sourcing and manufacture only, to answer the primary research question: How sector interventions can enable implementation of a circular fashion ecosystem, specifically in the upstream supply chain? Across the core themes of the upstream supply chain, this report presents findings based on research conducted from January to April 2023, using primary data the IPF gathered between 2021 and 2023 from across the fashion industry. This includes SME fashion designers in the BFC network, academia, brands, retailers, consultants, collectors & sorters & reprocessors, digital innovators, logistics providers, institutions and the third sector.

Virtual Production’s Role in Carbon Reduction and Net Zero Production in the Screen Industries

This policy report investigates the role of Virtual Production (VP) in reducing carbon emissions within the screen industries. It highlights the transformative nature of this nascent technology and its potential to revolutionise production workflows whilst at the same time significantly reducing carbon emissions in the production cycle of film, television, animation, games and other new emerging digital entertainment forms. It is a technology solution that will also support ambitions across the screen sector to push towards net zero content production.

Development of a Sustainability Reporting Framework for Co-Located, Cross-Sector Organisations

This research aims to develop and test a sustainability reporting framework to help organizations of varying sizes, maturities, and sectors progress towards sustainability goals. The framework will be developed within the context of the South Ken ZEN+ initiative and will be tested through phased interviews and workshops with ERCG members. The framework aims to support context-specific learning, aggregate performance, accommodate data at different levels of quality, and increase efficiency by reducing resource duplication and reporting time.

Retrofitting for Cultural Infrastructure

This report helps articulate the three values of retrofit - environmental, cultural and social - operating within the parameters of economic considerations, which should be considered for the future-proofing of our cultural infrastructure. It aims to bring greater clarity to the retrofit process for cultural organisations as well as recommendations for policy-makers and researchers.

Strategies for Reducing the Carbon Impact of Temporary and Touring Exhibitions in the Museums and Galleries sector

This report investigates current and future strategies for minimising the carbon impact of the design and build of temporary and touring exhibitions in the UK museums and galleries sector.

Design Researchers in Residence 2022/2023 ISLANDS

This publication features the work of the 2022/23 Design Researchers in Residence. It accompanies an exhibition staged at the Design Museum from June to September 2023. The four distinct projects by the Design Researchers in Residence form an archipelago of design thinking with currents of research and practice connecting different species, citizens, languages and terrains. Design Researchers in Residence is Future Observatory’s programme for emerging design researchers hosted at the Design Museum.

A Co-Creative Climate: Participatory design's emerging role for Glasgow's sustainable development

This Design Ecosystem Fellowship focused on mapping the emerging role of participatory design in Glasgow’s sustainable development. Glasgow hosted COP26 in November 2021, which stimulated support for net zero and nature-based enterprise (NBE) initiatives in the city’s local enterprise ecosystem across private, public and third sector projects and collaborations.

Mapping the Net Zero Transformation of Healthcare Ecosystems: The Case of NHS – University Hospital Coventry Warwick (UHCW)

The UHCW is one of the five UK trusts that have been selected for the Virginia Mason Institute partnership to boost innovation and continuous improvement. The purpose of the UHCW ecosystem is to become a national and international leader in healthcare while simultaneously achieving net zero goals.

Mosaic Landscapes: How private woodland owners have the power to change the future of our landscapes

Our work has investigated the opportunities for private woodland owners in England to develop resilient treescapes and regenerative land management practices to repair our degraded landscapes. We are interested in the opportunities that a transition to varied treescapes would offer a sustainable construction industry through the supply of diverse, low embodied carbon construction materials.