Design HOPES (Healthy Organisations in a Place-based Ecosystem, Scotland) is a transdisciplinary research project that exploits the potential of design-led thinking and making to innovate and tackle multifaceted health delivery challenges to meet urgent net zero goals for a sustainable health and social care system.
The climate emergency is a health emergency. Design HOPES is responding to this challenge by creating, prototyping and testing the products, services and systems needed to meet, and move beyond, urgent Net Zero goals for NHS Scotland.
This collaborative design-led research initiative comprises five Scottish Universities (University of Strathclyde, University of Dundee, Heriot Watt University, Abertay University, and the University of Edinburgh), NHS Scotland, the third sector, and design organisations. The OHBP through NHS Highland is one of several organisations supporting Design HOPES.
The research initiative has a new exhibition at the V&A Dundee showcasing the transformational research developed throughout the project – “Design HOPES: From HOPE to HEALTH”. The exhibition runs until 8th February 2026. Through product prototypes, videos, games and hands-on design tools, the display shows how both small scale design-led actions and wider shifts can help the NHS reduce its environmental impact while improving care for all.
See more about the exhibit here: Design HOPES: From hope to health