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Research

Just and Sustainable Futures

How can design contribute to a more equitable and sustainable world? Researchers in this cluster work alongside communities—particularly those historically excluded from technology and service design—to address structural inequities and envision long-term, restorative futures. 

This work is grounded in values of equity, justice, and sustainability, and reflects a deep commitment to participatory, community-centered research. Faculty in this cluster engage with complex challenges like climate change, humanitarian response, accessibility, and technology's role in systemic harm. 

Research spans topics such as sustainability transitions, environmental restoration, disability access, crisis informatics, and emerging technologies within political and social contexts. Across these efforts, we examine how design can both repair and reimagine relationships between people, systems, and environments.

HCDE Researchers

Keywords

Community-Centered Research

Designing Otherwise

Diversity and Inclusion

Environment

Equity

Global

Inclusion

Justice

More-than-human

Other-than-human ecologies

Restoration

Remediation

Sustainability

Underserved

Resilience

Recent Publications

Coming soon.

Explore Research Clusters

HCDE’s Research Clusters are collaborative focus areas that reflect major themes in the department’s work. Explore our clusters to learn more about the ideas driving research in HCDE, and the people making it happen. 

Awareness, Learning, and Behavior  Social Interactions and Online Communities  Coordination, Collaboration, and Infrastructure  Just and Sustainable Futures  Novel Systems and Technologies  AI and Data Science