Beyond the Paper Trail: Challenging Traditional Outputs in Design Research

We live in a world bloated with data yet starved for wisdom (Kapuʻuwailani Lindsey 2012). As sustainability challenges grow increasingly complex, the limitations of traditional, data-centric research approaches become apparent. This paper argues that the transition towards sustainability necessitates not just technological innovations, but a fundamental ontological shift in how we structure knowledge claims. Modernist systems of values in research, characterised by control, reductionism, and quantification, often marginalised tacit knowledge, indigenous ways of knowing, and intuition. Specifically, this paper advocates for the adoption of Research through Design (RtD) as a methodological paradigm that bridges the gap between quantifiable data and the lived, context-sensitive realities that are vital for sustainable futures. Finally, we discuss the types of research outputs needed to support this shift, moving beyond traditional peer-reviewed papers and bibliometric quantification towards a more holistic and impactful approach to knowledge production.