Conference Agenda

This interactive workshop makes the concept of nudging tangible as a practical and effective approach for driving change in design and development contexts. The “Small Nudges, Big Impact” workshop brings together researchers, practitioners, and design enthusiasts to explore how nudging principles can be applied to contemporary challenges in engineering design and product development.

Following a short introductory session with illustrative examples from design research, product development, and behavioural economics, participants will work in thematic breakout groups addressing selected challenges. One focal theme will be bridging research and practice (e.g., “Design Research meets Engineering Practice”, in cooperation with the Industry Practice SIG). Additional themes may include sustainability, user acceptance of new tools and methods, or fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, such as across public-sector contexts.

The aim is to explore how small behavioural interventions (“nudges”) can create new spaces for thinking and action in design processes and organizational settings. Each group will develop concrete, context-specific nudge concepts, identifying the underlying behavioural mechanisms and potential pathways for implementation. The results will be presented and jointly reflected upon in a plenary session.

Through shared experience, discussion, and creative co-creation, the workshop deepens participants’ understanding of nudging and supports its practical application as a catalyst for change in design practice.

Key outcomes

• A concise collection of nudge-based interventions addressing key design and development challenges (e.g., Design Research meets Engineering Practice).
• Documentation of the proposed interventions and their underlying behavioural mechanisms.
• Impetus for continued collaboration across SIGs.
• Input and inspiration for integrating nudging approaches into the organization and activities of ICED 2027 or the DESIGN Conference.