At the campus of the Higher Technical School of Architecture in San Sebastián, in the Basque Country, international design leaders gathered for the Design Research Society (DRS) Leadership Summer Meeting.
The opening day, titled Design Research Day, began with welcome remarks by Peter Lloyd, Chair of the Executive Board, and Sara Lenzi, Secretary, who shared the current state of the society and outlined the goals of the meeting. This was followed by the presentation of perspective papers, which sparked reflection on current challenges in the field and emerging critical areas for research. In his address, Lloyd emphasized, “Design research is not design. We must defend its independence with humility and clarity, resisting the temptation to collapse research into practice.”
The session also featured presentations by researchers including Cláudia de Souza Libânio (UFCSPA, Brazil), Tincuta Heinzel (Loughborough University, UK), Paola Bertola (Politecnico di Milano, Italy), Stefano Delle Monache (IRCAM), Lesley-Ann Noel (OCAD University), Fernando Secomandi (TU Delft), Luca Simeone (Aalborg University), Leandro Tonetto (Georgia Tech), Paulina Contreras (Universidad del Desarrollo), Nithikul Nimkulrat (OCAD University), Sabine Junginger (Northumbria University), Cecilia Landa-Avila (Loughborough University), Joanna Boehnert (Bath Spa University), Alejandra Poblete (UTEM), and Juan Montalván (Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú), highlighting the international diversity that defines DRS.
In addition, several speakers participated remotely, including Paul Hekkert, Derek Jones (The Open University), Davide Fassi (Politecnico di Milano), Katelijn Quartier (Hasselt University), Jung-Joo Lee (National University of Singapore), Federico Vaz (Royal College of Art), Dan Lockton (Norwich University of the Arts), and Emily Corrigan-Kavanagh (University of Surrey).
The second day, known as Business Day, focused on defining the future structure of DRS. Justin Sacks, Executive Director of DRS, together with Cecilia Landa-Avila, Chair of the International Advisory Council (IAC), led discussions on governance, code of conduct, and new participation models aimed at strengthening the global network.
They invited participants to contribute to the new Research Studios and Modes of Participation proposed by the IAC. These models seek to diversify and deepen member engagement through working groups, permanent committees, and collaborative initiatives. “DRS is your home. It is a space of possibility—not a university, but a community where we can build structures that transcend ourselves,” emphasized Sacks.
Landa-Avila, in her role as Chair of the IAC, reiterated her responsibility to facilitate a space for collective construction. She stressed the importance of diversity, pluralism, and experimentation in guiding the transition of the field toward a more open, ethical, and participatory future. “This meeting represents a key step toward advancing concrete proposals and strengthening our global community,” she stated.
During the perspective papers session, Paulina Contreras—Director of Investigation and member of both the IAC and the Partner Societies Committee of DRS—presented her proposal titled “Mapping the Past and Present to Design the Future – A Proposal for Analysis as Input for the Expansion of the DRS.” This project outlines a strategic analysis model intended to inform the design of future global collaboration and expansion strategies for the society. As a pilot, the proposal included an analysis of Latin American participation in the IAC and in Special Interest Groups (SIGs), revealing an emerging presence with significant potential for growth. The work is expected to serve as input for the Partner Societies Committee in the Executive Board’s decision-making processes.
The participation of the Director of Investigation in this meeting not only positions Universidad del Desarrollo within global conversations on design research but also reinforces the institution’s commitment to building a diverse, strategic, and collaborative academic community at the international level.
Founded in 1966, the Design Research Society (DRS) has promoted the discussion, advancement, and development of design research worldwide for over 50 years. The society’s mission is to foster dialogue that enables design research to respond to the world’s contemporary challenges.
