Conference Tracks

In this context, transdisciplinarity—understood as a unified body of knowledge that transcends the boundaries of individual disciplines—emerges as the essential approach to effectively address wicked, complex, and systemic problems. Wicked problems, first characterized by Rittel and Webber (1973), possess distinct features: they are ill-defined, lack a clear stopping point, cannot be conclusively solved with “true-or-false” answers, and resist straightforward testing. These problems are consequential, unique, and interconnected, with multiple valid interpretations influencing how they are approached and resolved. Furthermore, wicked problems present varied challenges for those attempting to solve them (Lawrence et al., 2022) and often generate intense pressure due to their urgent nature (Bremer, 2013). Contemporary examples of wicked problems include climate change, the rapid expansion of digital technologies, sustainable development, and the COVID-19 pandemic. In light of these considerations, we invite contributions that critically engage with the concept of transdisciplinarity within design processes, approaches, methodologies, and research. We seek work that redefines the paradigm by demonstrating how integrating design with diverse fields of knowledge can foster a truly transdisciplinary approach, enabling more effective responses to wicked and complex challenges.