Editorial. Training the Researchers of the Future Emerging Practices in Design Schools

Abstract

Although design has historically been closely linked to project-based practice and experimentation, in recent decades it has consolidated as an academic field with its own methodologies and conceptual frameworks. However, much of the knowledge generated by undergraduate students remains invisible, confined to institutional archives and excluded from scientific dissemination circuits. In response to this situation, the special issue “Educating the Researchers of the Future” seeks to make visible research projects developed in design schools across different countries, highlighting their potential to generate relevant and situated knowledge. The articles gathered in this issue address topics such as biodesign, sustainability, pedagogical methodologies, and collaborative creativity, demonstrating that undergraduate research constitutes a key space for strengthening disciplinary development and building a collective memory for the design field. Likewise, the editorial underscores the need to strengthen methodological standards, promote institutional support structures, and integrate research more systematically into design school curricula. Educating designers capable of conducting research, critically reflecting, and producing knowledge thus emerges as a fundamental condition for addressing complex social, environmental, and technological challenges.