Introduction -- From Design Optimization to Design Science: An Evolution in Design Thinking -- DESIGN, building a global, interdisciplinary community -- Designing a design conference in an emerging design science community: Danish experiences from the International Conference on Design (DESIGN) -- Dynamics of Using Information and Communication Technology Tools in a Distributed Project-Based Design Course -- European Global Product Realisation: creativity and innovation in educating engineers and product designers of 21st Century -- Creativity – a bottleneck in engineering design? -- Basics of Integrated Design Engineering (IDE) -- Human‐Centered Design Methodology as Bridge between Academic Research and Requirements in Industry -- What Does it Mean: “Quality of Design Research”? -- Conclusion.

The book provides a holistic insight into design research, a comprehensive and cohesive vision of state-of-the-art knowledge about creating and improving quality products, creativity and innovation. Contributions in this volume serve as the illuminating compass for understanding engineering design research, offering a comprehensive perspective on product development, creativity, innovation, invention, and productivity, providing the historical trajectory of design science and exploring the frontiers of engineering design research. The presented educational projects were deployed across EU universities, providing insights for future design courses. Central to the discussions is the pivotal role of sociotechnical dimensions in engineering design, discussing issues of creativity, quality, human-centric methodologies, and the demands of emerging technologies emphasizing their pivotal role in engineering design success. The text offers a panoramic view of design research's current state and critical themes, providing a comprehensive overview for young researchers. Educators and mentors will deepen their knowledge, while experts will refine their methodologies and tools.