Design Exchange Partnerships

Supporting researchers working with businesses, local government and NGOs across the UK

Design Exchange Partnerships (DEPs) are three-way collaborative projects which bring together early career design researchers, an academic supervisor and a non-academic organisation, such as a small business, NGO or public sector organisation. The projects are funded by AHRC for up to £40,000.

The partnerships seek to demonstrate tangible impact on local communities by stimulating the real-world application of high-quality arts and humanities-led design research to address challenges related to achieving green transition goals.

DEPs aim to:

– stimulate strategic partnerships that support career development and the development of hybrid skills

– increase the diversity of voices and actors consulted in and contributing to addressing the climate crisis

– enable the development of new products and services that have a positive impact in the real-world.

Future Observatory and AHRC run an annual call for DEP funding. The next call will be announced in late-2023. More details.