Research approach and particular strengths
The research takes a process-oriented and participatory approach and involves interaction between different user interests and designs. It is based on empirical, typical case- and action research-oriented studies undertaken in partnerships with public institutions and private-sector enterprises.

A particular strength is the interdisciplinary approach facilitating intensive research of the interactions between different human technologies, and the ways in which humans and technologies are integrated. The concept of Human Technologies indicates this very integration. Designing is analytical, constructive and reflective: The research conducted questions how human technologies work, how they are understood, what knowledge can be acquired from taking part in designing human technologies and in which ways research can contribute to these processes.

FocusThe research initiative addresses three issues/themes. Common to all three themes is a concern for the ethical aspects, through which researchers can explicate their reasons for and opinions on research activities and findings. Two of the themes refer to application areas ("Development and design of socio-technical systems" and "Aesthetics, experience and learning"), the third theme cuts across application areas ("Design as a scientific method").

Read more about the three issues/themes:
- Development and design of socio-technical systems
- Aesthetics, experience and learning
- Design as a Scientific method