Change Lab : Reimagining space for interdisciplinary collaboration

Higher education plays an essential role in equipping students to address complex challenges such as the climate emergency. It is the complexity of these challenges that requires combined efforts across disciplines. However, traditional academic system structures often isolate disciplines and don’t support the intersection of fields, limiting opportunities for collaboration. This thesis explores how introducing and facilitating an environment that fosters interdisciplinary collaboration can contribute to addressing the climate emergency in the context of higher education at Linnaeus University. This is conducted in the form of Change Lab - an interdisciplinary collaboration space designed to bring students together across disciplines to work on climate emergency challenges. The project investigates how a dedicated space can foster interdisciplinary teamwork, what methods and structures are most effective, and how this initiative can be supported by the educational system of Linnaeus University. Using a combination of participatory research, workshops, and system analysis, this thesis examines the needs, challenges, and experiences of students engaging in interdisciplinary collaboration. The findings aim to provide insights into how I, as a designer, can contribute to physical and social environments that shape collaborative learning and support students in tackling climate emergency challenges, as well as their implementation into the educational system structures of Linnaeus University through system intervention.