The Design Research Group incorporates theoretical and design research, scholarship, and professional practice. It uses design based and transdisciplinary thinking that crosses scales, from artefacts to rooms to cities, from the individual to collective life. It addresses global grand challenges on the environment, urbanisation, digitalisation, wellbeing, health and social justice. 

This group engages with practice, project and design-based research activities in architecture, interior architecture and urban design.

Evidence-based inquiry is undertaken, employing mixed methodologies to design and evaluate live building projects, exhibitions and artefacts that deal with real world problems. Research draws upon the professional experience of the academic staff who engage with a wide range of projects from small-scale cultural and residential schemes to large scale developments, such as urban design proposals for international cities, health-tourism proposals and sustainable cities.

Staff and students regularly participate in national and international design competitions and consultancy activities, and many of these case study projects have been recognised through regional, national and international awards and building commissions.

This research has been displayed in exhibitions at prestigious venues worldwide in cities such as New York, London, Kiev, Bremen, Krakow, Milan and Kuala Lumpur.