Interdisciplinary Design Research
A Global Interdisciplinary team of highly skilled experts that provide innovative solutions. Bringing together various disciplines, such as architecture, engineering, and technology, to create innovative and sustainable solutions that meet the needs of our modern world.
IDR was initiated by Stephan Degenhart – Managing Director of APAC-ME, and Dr Abdulmajid Karanouh – Head of IDR, in 2018 in Dubai, in liaison with Dreso’s HQ in Stuttgart. IDR is a continuation of Dreso’s entrepreneurial innovative approach to management, dedicated to international markets.
IDR is a group of diversified design specialists unified by an interdisciplinary mindset to add value through innovation. IDR collaborates with global and local partners to manage the development of innovative solutions adapted to the project context. IDR utilises algorithmic design and computational techniques to integrate the principles and parameters of various disciplines’ models including business, design, construction, operation and whole lifecycle, among others, to manage the development of balanced creative solutions.
IDR collaborates with various Dreso business units like PMO International to cover a wide spectrum of projects from mega developments like NEOM in KSA to iconic buildings like the Mercedes-Benz Flagship in Dubai. IDR assisted in developing highly futuristic project visions and pilot projects for high-profile clients like the Leadership of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, KSA, and Egypt among others; IDR supports a wide range of clients including governmental bodies, developers, consultants, contractors, solutions providers, and suppliers
Why innovation?
Innovation is instrumental to the wellbeing of humanity to live in harmony and prosperity. It inspires us to continuously reconsider and further advance our understanding of the why, what, and how we build together our global civilisation.
At its core, innovation entails combining two or more well-established concepts to create new ones with added value. Innovation is therefore predicated upon collaboration of various expertise and their associated disciplines to continuously improve the strategy, process, tools, and outcome needed to achieve progress. An interdisciplinary approach to innovation is therefore more effective than a traditional multidisciplinary one, where the principles and parameters of various disciplines are seamlessly integrated to create novel yet viable solutions of added value.
An interdisciplinary approach to innovation can be rather challenging and often unattainable in a compartmentalised and multidisciplinary industry of the Built Environment. Dreso responded to such challenge by founding the Interdisciplinary Design Research (IDR) – a design innovation management group – specialised in breaking through the industry’s compartmental walls, to assist project teams in developing agile strategies, models, frameworks, processes, and tools to enable innovation more effectively.
By combining the knowledge and expertise of professionals from different backgrounds, interdisciplinary design research teams can help to tackle the complex challenges faced by the construction industry today.
One of the key benefits of interdisciplinary design research is the ability to bring fresh perspectives to traditional problems. By considering a wide range of factors, such as environmental impact, cost-effectiveness, and user experience, interdisciplinary design methods can develop solutions that are both efficient and effective. Additionally, this revolutionary method helps reduce the risk of errors and miscommunication, as teams work together to ensure that all aspects of the project are consideredOne of the key benefits of interdisciplinary design research is the ability to bring fresh perspectives to traditional problems. By considering a wide range of factors, such as environmental impact, cost-effectiveness, and user experience, interdisciplinary design methods can develop solutions that are both efficient and effective. Additionally, this revolutionary method helps reduce the risk of errors and miscommunication, as teams work together to ensure that all aspects of the project are considered.
IDR's interdisciplinary design model
IDR's interdisciplinary design model
(agility + universality + contextuality + balance + viability)
Interdisciplinary design research are critical components of the construction industry, enabling professionals to work together to develop innovative and sustainable solutions that meet the needs of our world today and into the future.
Interdisciplinary Design Model
Drees & Sommer's Interdisciplinary Design Research (IDR) group leaders, Drs Abdulmajid Karanouh and Greig Patterson present an innovative design management tool, created through the group’s signature interdisciplinary development method, fuelled by the need to capture and communicate the design rationale and value creation process of innovative projects more effectively and interactively. IDR’s novel management process and interactive tools allow project teams to better explore, compare, and evaluate potential innovative outcomes, while facilitating management, communication, and collaboration between various project stakeholders. This saves valuable time, resources and cost for all project stakeholders while maximising the quality and value of the end-product.
360° design management services - integrated design solutions
Key Services
Key Sectors
IDR Overview
Al-Bahr Towers
The building is popular for its innovative form, structure, and smart envelope design. The latter reduces requirements for cooling loads and artificial lighting by 50% by adapting to the sun’s movement. The design earned Best Innovation Award in 2012 by CTBUH and Times Magazine, and as covered by CNN, CNBC, and Discovery – becoming Abu Dhabi’s main landmark and global benchmark for smart contextual design and construction.
Other projects
Breaking down barriers in construction through interdisciplinary collaboration.
IDR comprises of a group of highly specialised and diversified talents of various backgrounds and disciplines, who were brought together from various areas of the world to collaborate under the umbrella of one team and for one purpose only; to add value by continuously innovating new solutions to constantly improve the why, what, and how we build together our global civilisation.
DEPARTMENT LEADERS
