Name: Jia Ying Chew
PhD Title: The Role of Design in Transdisciplinary Higher Education
PhD Abstract: As complex global challenges resist single-discipline solutions, universities have turned to transdisciplinary approaches — yet we still lack empirical understanding of how to teach these competences effectively. This doctoral study addresses implementation gaps through a two-part enquiry, investigating how design’s boundary-spanning capabilities can support transdisciplinary learning while examining institutional barriers.
I first conducted a three-year Participatory Action Research (2021-2023) developing a transdisciplinary pilot course at the National University of Singapore with faculty from industrial design, psychology, computing, and engineering. This revealed critical insights about transdisciplinary learning, including how epistemic intelligence develops through structured convergence points and how design frameworks require mediation to prevent disciplinary dominance. However, the pedagogical innovations that enabled effective learning generated coordination demands that traditional academic structures struggle to sustain.
Then, to understand how transdisciplinary teaching can be sustained, I conducted multi-case studies across six initiatives in Europe and Australia. This analysis reconceptualises integration as a meta-competence coordinating distinct competence clusters, with design directly enabling Joint Problem Framing and Creative Solution Development. Three implementation models emerged — Central Coordination, Departmental Affiliation, and Pan-University Structures, each addressing different institutional contexts.
This research contributes a six-dimensional framework for aligning pedagogical design with institutional capacity, and a Transdisciplinary Curriculum Planning Canvas for course development. By connecting classroom innovations with institutional realities, it provides pathways for implementing sustainable transdisciplinary programmes in traditional universities.
Bio: Jia Ying Chew works at the intersection of design education and transdisciplinary learning. Her path— from facilities management through industrial design and service design to a Master’s at Aalto University— shaped her interest in how disciplines integrate. Her recently completed PhD at University of the Arts London developed frameworks for sustainable transdisciplinary teaching implementation. At NUS, she pioneered an award-winning course spanning design, psychology, computing, and engineering. Outside work, she’s happiest with a good book, a new city to wander, or an unhurried conversation with a small group of friends.
Supervisory team: Dr Lara Salinas & Prof Ramia Mazé
Dates: 2020-2026
Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jiayingchew/
Publications:
Chew, J.-Y. (2023). Designing for X-Disciplinarity: Why, What and How? Why Now?. In: Lehtonen, M.J., Kauppinen, T., Sivula, L. (eds) Design Education Across Disciplines. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-23152-0_6
Lehtonen, M.J., Yeow, P. & Chew, J.-Y. (2022), Empowering change for future-making: Developing agency by framing wicked problems through design, Futures, doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.futures.2022.102952
Chew, J.-Y., Lim, D.Y.M, Yap, C.E.L & Lee, J.J. (2021), “Introducing Complex Stakeholder Networks to Design Students: A Method of Stakeholder Improv-Play”. [ _ ] With Design: Reinventing Design Modes. Proceedings of IASDR 2021. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 5-9 December 2021, Hong Kong (Online).
Chew, J.-Y. (2021), “Siloed in Breaking Silos: A Case Study of Interdisciplinary Curriculum (Mis)Alignment”. Proceedings of the LearnxDesign 2021: 6th International Conference for Design Education Researchers. Shandong University of Art & Design, 23-27 September 2021, Shandong, China (Online).
Chew, J.-Y. & Lehtonen M.J. (2021), “Integrative literature review on transdisciplinary research: Towards a multi-stakeholder approach to transdisciplinary education” (Infographic Poster). Creating Spaces and Cultivating Mindsets for Learning and Experimentation. Proceedings of International Transdisciplinarity Conference 2021. The Transdisciplinarity Lab, ETH Zurich, 13-17 September 2021, Switzerland (Online).
Chew, J.-Y., Lee, J.J. & Lehtonen M.J. (2020), “Towards Design-Driven Transdisciplinary Education: Navigating the Challenges and Envisioning the Role of Design as a Facilitator”. Synergy. Proceedings of the Design Research Society 2020 Conference. Griffith University, 11-14 August 2020, Brisbane, Australia (Online).
Chew, J. -Y. (2019). Anatomising transdisciplinary higher education through strategic design [Masters Thesis, Aalto University]. https://aaltodoc.aalto.fi:443/handle/123456789/38458
Lehtonen, M.J & Chew, J.-Y. (2019), “Developing Design Literacy for Social Agency”. Research Perspectives In the era of Transformations. Proceedings of the Academy for Design Innovation Management Conference 2019. Loughborough University, 18–21 June 2019, London, United Kingdom.
Chew, J.-Y., Lehtonen, M.J. & Schilli, S.K (2019), “The Rise of Design Dyslexia & how to overcome it”. Design Management Review, Vol. 30 Issue 1.
Yeo, Y., Chew, J.-Y.& Lee, J.J.(2016). “Towards Sustainable Impact After University-Government Design Projects: Case of Worker Services in Singapore”. Geographies. Proceedings of the ServDes.2016 Conference. The Service Design & Innovation Conference, 24- 26 May 2016, Aalborg University, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Service Futures Lab 