When Design Met Science: The Interplay Revolution of 2015
The 2015 IASDR Congress in Brisbane became a historic melting pot where designers, scientists, and artists discovered their shared language was not words, but transformation.
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Introduction: Where Disciplines Collide
In 2015, something extraordinary happened in Brisbane, Australia. The International Association of Societies of Design Research (IASDR) hosted a congress that would become a landmark event in the design world. Under the theme "Interplay," this gathering wasn't just about presenting research papers—it was a radical experiment in breaking down the walls between design, science, technology, and the arts. For the first time on such a scale, researchers explored what happens when these fields stop working in isolation and start truly communicating. The resulting proceedings, a massive 3,065-page volume, became a snapshot of a pivotal moment in design thinking, capturing the birth of a more collaborative, interdisciplinary approach that would influence years of innovation to come 2 4 .
The significance of this event extends far beyond academic circles. When designers borrow from biotechnology, when artists incorporate engineering principles, and when scientists adopt design thinking, we get breakthroughs that redefine what's possible. The Interplay congress provided a global forum for this exact cross-pollination, establishing trans-disciplinary research platforms that continue to foster innovation today 4 7 . This article delves into the core concepts, groundbreaking research, and lasting impact of this pioneering event.
The Core Concept: What Is Interplay in Design Research?
Beyond Multidisciplinary Work
While multidisciplinary work involves experts from different fields contributing their piece to a puzzle, Interplay represented something more profound. According to the congress vision, it was about understanding the dynamic interactions between design research and other fields, creating opportunities to explore relationships between cross-disciplinary knowledge and various design research approaches 4 .
This wasn't just about sharing findings—it was about creating new hybrid methodologies that couldn't have emerged within a single discipline.
The Three Pillars of Interplay
The Interplay approach rested on three fundamental pillars:
Science and Design Interplay
Incorporating rigorous scientific methods and principles into design processes while also applying design thinking to scientific communication and tool development.
Technology and Design Interplay
Exploring how emerging technologies could transform design practices while also examining how design could humanize and improve technological interfaces.
Arts and Design Interplay
Investigating how artistic approaches could enhance design creativity while considering how design principles could structure artistic installations and experiences.
This framework allowed participants to move beyond superficial collaborations toward truly integrated research approaches that leveraged the strengths of each discipline 4 .
Inside a Groundbreaking Experiment: The Color-Changing Textiles
One of the most compelling examples of Interplay in action came from researchers D. Rajapakse, A. Briggs-Goode, and T. Dias, whose work on electronically controllable color-changing textiles perfectly embodied the congress theme 9 .
Research Impact
This research demonstrated that textiles could evolve from static materials to dynamic, responsive interfaces bridging physical and digital worlds.
Methodology: Where Materials Science Meets Design
The research team embarked on a systematic exploration of photochromic materials—substances that change color when exposed to specific stimuli, particularly ultraviolet radiation. Their experimental process provides a perfect case study of interdisciplinary research:
Material Selection
The team began with commercially available water-based photochromic inks, deliberately choosing accessible materials to demonstrate real-world applicability.
Application Process
Using screen printing methods—a traditional design technique—they applied these advanced materials onto textiles.
Activation Innovation
Beyond conventional UV activation, they developed an electronic activation method that could precisely control the dynamic color changes.
Pattern Exploration
They experimented with designing complex multi-color change textile patterns that could transform based on environmental conditions or electronic inputs 9 .
This methodology beautifully wove together elements of materials science (photochromic properties), electrical engineering (activation systems), and traditional textile design (screen printing).
Results and Analysis: The Future of Responsive Materials
The research yielded remarkable insights that pushed the boundaries of what textiles could do. The key findings revealed:
Complex Color Behaviors
The photochromic inks demonstrated sophisticated color-changing effects that went beyond simple transitions, including layered transformations and gradient developments.
Controlled Kinetic Effects
The researchers identified new variables that could precisely control the kinetic behavior of photochromic prints, essentially allowing designers to "program" how fabrics would change over time.
Electronic Integration
The successful development of an electronic activation method opened possibilities for integrating textiles with digital systems, creating fabrics that could respond to signals from various electronic devices.
Perhaps the most significant implication was the demonstration that textiles could evolve from static materials to dynamic, responsive interfaces that bridge the physical and digital worlds 9 .
Data Analysis: Understanding Photochromic Textile Behavior
| Initial Color State | Activated Color State | Activation Trigger | Transition Time (seconds) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorless | Blue | UV Radiation | 2-3 |
| Colorless | Red | UV Radiation | 3-4 |
| Colorless | Green | UV Radiation | 2-3 |
| Blue | Purple | Electronic Signal | 1-2 |
| Red | Orange | Electronic Signal | 1-2 |
| Activation Method | Precision Control | Indoor Usability | Energy Consumption | Integration Complexity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural UV (Sunlight) | Low | Low | None | Simple |
| Artificial UV Lamps | Medium | High | Medium | Moderate |
| Electronic Activation | High | High | Low | Complex |
| Control Variable | Impact on Color Behavior | Design Implications |
|---|---|---|
| Ink Concentration | Affects color intensity and transition speed | Allows for gradient effects and patterned responsiveness |
| Textile Base Material | Influences absorption and color clarity | Determines suitable applications and durability |
| Activation Duration | Controls depth of color change | Enables timed exposure designs |
| Layer Sequencing | Creates color mixing effects | Allows complex multi-color patterns from limited ink palette |
The Scientist's Toolkit: Research Reagent Solutions
The color-changing textile experiment exemplified the Interplay approach partly because of its sophisticated use of materials and technologies. Here are the key components that made this research possible:
| Material/Technology | Function in Research | Interdisciplinary Domain |
|---|---|---|
| Photochromic Inks | Primary color-changing material that responds to stimuli | Materials Science, Chemistry |
| Screen Printing Apparatus | Application method for precise patterning of inks | Traditional Design, Manufacturing |
| UV Radiation Sources | Conventional activation method for color change | Physics, Optics |
| Electronic Control Systems | Advanced activation method enabling precision | Electrical Engineering, Computing |
| Textile Substrates | Base materials receiving photochromic applications | Textile Design, Materials Engineering |
| Color Measurement Instruments | Quantitative analysis of color change properties | Data Science, Analytics |
Photochromic Material Samples
Activation Methods
The Lasting Impact: Where Interplay Has Led Us
The 2015 IASDR Interplay congress did more than just produce interesting papers—it established a new paradigm for design research that continues to influence the field today. The trans-disciplinary platforms it fostered have led to ongoing collaborations that might never have otherwise formed 4 7 .
- "Life-Changing Design" (2023) Recent
- "Design Next" (2025)
- "Design as a Catalyst for Change" (2019)
- "Interplay" (2015)
The greatest legacy of the Interplay congress may be its demonstration that the most complex challenges of our time—from sustainability to healthcare to digital integration—cannot be solved within single disciplines. By creating a space where different ways of knowing could truly interact, the event advanced not just design research, but our collective capacity for innovation.
Conclusion: The Future Is Interdisciplinary
The 2015 IASDR Interplay congress stands as a powerful testament to the creative and innovative potential that emerges when we break down barriers between disciplines. The research presented, from color-changing textiles to countless other projects, demonstrated that the most exciting developments are happening not in isolated fields, but in the fertile spaces between them.
Key Takeaway
As we face increasingly complex global challenges, the Interplay approach becomes not just interesting, but essential. The congress reminded us that design is not just about making things look attractive—it's a sophisticated research discipline that can integrate insights from science, technology, and the arts to create meaningful solutions.
The proceedings from this event continue to serve as both a record of what's possible and an inspiration for future generations of researchers willing to look beyond their immediate fields for collaboration and insight.
The Message of Interplay
The message of Interplay is ultimately optimistic: by embracing our disciplinary differences and finding ways to make them converse, we unlock new possibilities for creativity, innovation, and problem-solving that can enrich our world in unexpected ways.