The Centre for Design Innovation (CDI) leads the research and development of fundamental, strategic and transformative design solutions.

Our team tackle deviously complex problems to generate new knowledge and drive real-world social, health, environmental and economic benefit. We do this with a strong client-focused capability, integrating the voices of clients and communities to create impactful research outcomes with commercial distinction.

Housed within a range of innovative facilities, our award-winning projects and core programs are aligned with national research priorities and Swinburne’s 2025 Research Vision.

Our research is focused within three core programs:

Our partners

We engage various groups and world-leading researchers, using first-class resources to design, validate, test and commercialise innovative ideas. Our partners include renowned companies, entrepreneurs, NGOs and government organisations.

Our research facilities

Our research is conducted with a range of state of the art facilities and platforms including the Digital interactive presentation facility,  Health and Sports Technology Lab, the Protolab and the iHUB National Urban Research Platform.

  • Photograph of ProtoLab through a window
    Protolab is one of Swinburne’s state-of-the-art digital fabrication facilities (image credit: Doris Dai).
  • Digital interactive room
    Design operations room – Digital interactive presentation facility.
  • Instron
    Our state-of-the-art Health and Sports Technology Lab
  • A computer-generated image showing a large office space with groups of 4 people seated around square tables working on laptops together, with large screens beside their table projecting various images.
    iHUB's research breakout configuration

Our study option

We nurture and collaborate with PhD design students from various design disciplines and countries. For those who come through an Honours or Master's pathway, the Centre for Design Innovation is the next step into advanced design knowledge development, enabling graduates to become leaders in strategic and meaningful design innovation. 

Find out more about applying for a research degree.

Centre news

Find more news articles about the Centre for Design Innovation.

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How you can reach us

Media

We value supporting accurate and informed media information and invite journalists to contact us via email or phone as listed below.

cdiadmin@swinburne.edu.au
+61 3 9214 6072

Postal address

Centre for Design Innovation
Advanced Manufacturing and Design Centre (AMDC)
469-477 Burwood Rd
Hawthorn VIC 3122 Australia

Collaborate with the Centre for Design Innovation

We always welcome new partners. If you are interested in transforming ideas into commercially competitive outcomes, need the support of our research or have any other queries, contact us on +61 3 9214 6072 or email cdiadmin@swinburne.edu.au.

Contact us