Towards a Mission-Driven Transdisciplinarity? Examining the Relationship Between Transdisciplinarity and a Design-Led Approach to Missions in Addressing Complex Societal Challenges

Complex societal challenges, often framed as grand challenges or wicked problems, are characterised by systemic interdependencies that exceed traditional disciplinary solutions. Addressing them requires participatory approaches that integrate relevant societal actors and context-specific knowledge bases. At this nexus, conceptual linkages among transdisciplinarity, an expanded understanding of design, and mission-oriented innovation reveal a hitherto underexplored research gap. This intersection crystallises in the design-led approach to missions of the Danish Design Center (DDC). This study investigates to what extent the DDC's approach is suitable for implementing transdisciplinary practice. The empirical investigation is based on seven expert interviews and employs deductive and inductive content analysis guided by a theory-driven catalogue of criteria for transdisciplinary practice. The findings indicate that the DDC's mission approach exhibits above-average potential for implementing transdisciplinary practice. The distinctive design-based methodology emerges as a central intermediary capacity for mission-oriented work. Further, the analysis suggests that missions may operate as discrete drivers of transdisciplinary practice. By systematically relating the theories of transdisciplinarity, mission-oriented approaches, and design, the study creates direct transfer to a shared field of impact. As an opening study, it establishes a robust foundation for further research and points to reciprocal implications for research and practice. In conclusion, it calls for further investigation of a prospective mission-driven transdisciplinarity.