A view from the fringe : transdiciplinarity and the journey of the devox

The problems of today are complex and context dependant. Solutions need to be developed taking into account the individual issues that relate to each problem. There is no one size fits all solution. The complexity usually requires that the knowledge and skills of a range of disciplines are required to develop a suitable solution. The need for transdisciplinarity becomes apparent in this space. This paper gives an introduction to transdisciplinarity and its relationship to Mode 1 and Mode 2 knowledge. The three pillars of transdisciplinarity are discussed and their link to the problem space if demonstrated in the case study of safe design. The case study tracks how deviance theory can be demonstrated in the journey of the devox – the innovation virus.