The value of integrating design processes in action in technology driven product development

Scientists and technology developers have been slow to introduce design into the early stages of technology driven product development because they do not understand the value that designers can contribute to applying their research. This thesis contributes to our understanding of the barriers to effective collaboration in technology driven product development, and how Design Thinking approaches to co-design can be used to overcome them. Significantly, this thesis uses the theory and metaphor of a Black Box to ground the early integration of design in action within technology driven product development, and codifies the outcomes of the research in a framework for practitioners.