Transdisciplinary Engineering for Social Change: A People-Led Vision

Abstract

This Special Issue of the Journal of Integrated Design and Process Science builds on the theme of the 31st ISTE International Conference on Transdisciplinary Engineering: Engineering for Social Change. It examines how transdisciplinary engineering offers a powerful approach to addressing complex societal challenges by integrating diverse forms of knowledge and actively involving stakeholders who are directly affected by the systems in question. This shift requires not only methodological innovation but also a reorientation of values from control to collaboration, and from expertise to shared understanding. We offer a vision for People-Led (P-L) principle: the idea that systems should be powered by people, driven by their creativity and insight, and designed to meet real needs while supporting business goals. P-L approaches foster resilient, responsive systems by co-creating solutions with those who use them. This special issue positions transdisciplinary engineering as a foundation for socially responsible innovation and invites researchers and practitioners to rethink how systems are conceived and transformed – with people at the core.