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Research

 

PHD RESEARCH

A practice based PhD working to build and understand a new social design process called Re-authoring Design. This involves bringing theories and practices from narrative therapy into design for the purpose of inspiring new ways of understanding and practicing social design. The main objective of this shift is to inform new approaches to collaboration, where co-design is moved beyond it’s problem solving and outcome oriented focus and instead approached as an experience that aims to be meaningful and transformative itself.

This has involved multi-year collaborations with two community groups:

Working with a Barkindji Men’s Group to Co-design a Social Centre, and

Collaborating with the refugee community in Western Sydney to design and construct a tapestry covered couch which celebrates their stories of friendship and healing

A very early positioning paper can be read here, I'm currently writing up, so more to come!

 

 

RESEARCH AT DESIGNING OUT CRIME / DESIGN INNOVATION RESEARCH CENTER, UTS (2012-2020)

I have been involved in a body of work that explores how access to social justice can be improved in prisons, courts and communities, through design. The people behind this work are a multidisciplinary team who draw on practices from architecture, industrial design, visual communication and spatial psychology. This work is the product of this team’s collaboration with staff and end users within the justice system.

We use design research methods to first explore and understand deep human needs within a given context, and then develop frameworks that inform the creation of appropriate design responses. These responses include new spaces, products, services and ways of communicating. The learnings and experiences from this work feed directly into the team’s research, with the aims of contributing to a growing body of knowledge in this area and of being able to inform future policy and decision-making.

At the core of all of the work is the intention to create environments that allow for more meaningful, dignified and equitable experiences of justice.

Work can be viewed at https://www.designforsocialjustice.xyz/home

 

 

RESEARCH AT DESIGNLAB (2008-2012)

I contributed to a number of Design Research projects exploring, developing and testing reliable household products to support healthy living practices in remote Australian communities. Thes included:


 

Flick Mixer Product Research for Remote Australian Communities

'Fixing Houses for Better Health' (FHBH) survey data indicates that taps are performing poorly within housing in remote communities (National Indigenous Housing Guide, 3rd edition, pp 73-76, 217-218 http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/sa/indigenous/progserv/housing/Documents/contents.htm)

Poorly performing taps can impact family's ability to maintain personal hygiene and health. Washing children under 5 years of age is the highest priority, working and reliable taps are fundamental to maintaining healthy living environments.

Taking this into consideration, 12 mixers were thoroughly analysed with the following considerations: 

  • What quality differences are there among the models currently on the market?

  • Establish performance criteria for specifying flick mixers

  • Disassemble, identify, analyse and evaluate materials, components, methods of fixing, etc…

  • Highlight potential problematic issues,

  • Evaluate fastening to basins, walls, etc…

  • Document and present current product examples

  • Specify performance criteria for suitable products

  • Recommend most suited product based on above work for further in field testing

 


 

Door Hardware Product Research for Remote Australian Communities

FHBH Survey data shows that door knobs, latches, locks and hinges are performing poorly remote housing (National Indigenous Housing Guide - NIHG 3rd edition, pp 28-204 http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/sa/indigenous/progserv/housing/Documents/contents.htm)

Privacy and security are vital factors in maintaining family health and safety, especially in overcrowded low income housing. Dwellings often contain multiple families and bedrooms are required to provide security for individual families and their possessions.

This research explored door hardware and the effects of overuse, damage and poor maintenance. Research was carried out into a system of reliable products which could combat the heavy usage within remote Australian communities.


 

Stove Product Research for Remote Australian Communities

A STOVE IMPROVEMENT research document (Designlab, 2007) indicates that many stoves in remote communities are performing poorly as they are not designed to meet the needs of their intended context. Overcrowding and harsh environments are causing stoves to fail, resulting in serious hygiene and nutrition issues for families.

A market research project was carried out to establish a list of commercial stove manufacturers whom were capable of producing stoves to suit the needs of this context.
A selection of new commercial style stoves are currently being tested within various remote locations.

 

 

Food Management In Remote Australian Communities

A year long research project (for UTS dissertation, metored by Designlab) exploring the systems of sourcing, transporting, purchasing, storing, preparing and consuming food in Remote Indigenous communities.

The resulting project aimed to improve hygiene and nutrition, as well as redesigning the transportation network. Consolidating suppliers and improving efficiency in order to reduce the price and improve the quality of fresh produce.

The system also explored solutions for in community transportation as well as hygienic storage, preparation and serving within the home.


 

 

PUBLICATIONS:
 

Lulham, R., Munro, T., Bradley, K., Kashyap, K. & Tomkin, D. 2018, ‘Local Context: Social Practices’, Towards Humane Prisons-A Principled and Participatory approach to Prison planning and design. International Committee of The Red Cross.

Bradley, K., Kashyap, K., Klippan, L., Lulham, R., McGregor, F., Munro, T. & Tomkin, D. 2017, ‘Reframing the purpose, practice and place of juvenile detention In the Northern Territory. Submission to the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory’.

Bradley, K., Kashyap, K., Lulham, R., Munro, T. & Tomkin, D. 2017, ‘Creating productive spaces for Community Corrections and Family Video Contact’, Designing Out Crime Research Centre.

Lulham, R., Kashyap, K., Klippan, L., Munro, T., Bradley, K., Tomkin, D., McKay, C. & Rowden, E. 2017, ‘Court-Custody Audio Visual Links: Designing for equitable justice experience in the use of court custody video conferencing’, Designing Out Crime Research Centre.

Lulham, R., Kashyap, K., Rowden, E., Munro, T., Bradley, K., Tomkin, D. & McKay, C. 2016, ‘Audio Visual Link Suites in Custodial Contexts: Basic ergonomic and technical recommendations’, Designing Out Crime Research Centre.

Munro, T. 2016, ‘Appreciative Co-design: From Problem Solving to Strength-Based Re-authoring in Social Design’, paper presented to the Design Research Symposium.

Munro, T. 2016, ‘Exploring a Re-authoring approach in Social Design Practice’. Online Article

Klippan, L., Van Der Bijl-Brouwer, M., Willcocks, M. & Munro, T. 2016, ‘This Time it’s Personal, A Conversation at DRS2016 ‘. paper presented to the Design Research Symposium.

Munro, T. 2016, Wildebeest Workshop Plans, pamphlet, Tasman Munro Design.

Bradley, K., Klippan, L., Kashyap, K., Lulham, R., Munro, T. & Tomkin, D. 2015, ‘Intensive Learning Centre: Building Evaluation Report’, Designing Out Crime Research Centre.

Munro, T., Tomkin, D., Lulham, R., Bradley, K. & Kashyap, K. 2015, ‘Evaluating a New High Security Teaching Environment’. paper presented to the Australasian Corrections Education Association

Bradley, K., Munro, T., Lulham, R., Tomkin, D. & McGregor, F. 2012, ‘Intensive Learning Centre: Concept Report’, Designing Out Crime Research Centre.

Tietz, C., Munro, T. & Norman, G. 2012, ‘Yardmaster: Reducing the Effect of Overcrowding in Remote Indigenous Housing’. Art Almanac

Munro, T. 2012, ‘Well Furnished, a squat and creative space in Hackney ‘, Flamingo.