A conceptual framework for multidisciplinary design research with example application to agent-based modeling

The design community traditionally excels at multidisciplinary research efforts, integrating work from social science, engineering, computer science, and other disciplines. Simultaneously, design is also developing as a discipline in its own right. In order to balance a multidisciplinary11In this work we use multidisciplinary in the general sense, referring to a non-specific combination of disciplines. tradition against consolidation around a core set of disciplinary foundations, the design community must make intentional decisions about engaging in multidisciplinary research. Towards this end, we propose the Degrees of Disciplinarity Framework, a lingua franca for describing varying relationships between disciplines in a given research effort. We also introduce research archetypes in relation to this conceptual framework and provide examples of the framework using agent-based modeling research in design. Further, we discuss implications of this framework for the education of future design practitioners and researchers. •The design community must intentionally consider multidisciplinarity.•This work introduces the Degrees of Disciplinarity Framework.•The framework is demonstrated through examples to agent-based modeling.