Art and Design Transformations, and Additive Manufacturing Research Group

Art and Design Transformations, and Additive Manufacturing Research Group was established in 2021. The University of Sharjah strongly encourages and supports the establishment of multidisciplinary research groups in state-of-the-art research areas. The art and design transformations research group has been originally formed at the Department of Applied Design in the College of Fine Arts and Design to provide an artistic and scientific platform to energize collaborative efforts among colleges. Researchers and students at the University of Sharjah in the fields of art and design, applied design, interior design, graphic design, recycling technologies, and business administration and marketing, under the broader theme of circular economy. The research group communicated Bee'ah waste management and coordinators of the group already had previous successful funded projects with Bee'ah and received some intentions to collaborate in ADT research group.

The mission of the ADT research group is to serve the community through developing and disseminating knowledge related to applied design using 3D printing, and providing innovative and practical solutions needed for beter use of recycled materials. To achieve its mission, the ADT research group is planning to seek collaboration with government and private organizations through joint projects and exchange meetings as well as specialized training and consultation services.

The goal of the ADT research group is to conduct state-of-the-art research activities that are focused on the needs of the community, in view of the multifaceted problems of circular economy, customized production, and design using recycled materials.

The research group is intended to encourage inter-disciplinary research within multiple departments in the College of Fine Arts and Design, and College of Business at the University of Sharjah.

The main objectives of the research group are to:

1. Conduct multi-disciplinary research on art and design, rapid prototyping, within various circular economy aspects, including 3D Printing, customized designed products for community, and recycling process.
2. Set up a state-of-the-art Recycling facility at the College of Fine Arts and Design, at the University of Sharjah, enhancing three-dimensional sustainability.
3. Carry out 3D printing modeling applications using waste and recycled materials as main resource for customized design production.
4. Interventions to promote social and behavioral change for environment conservation and environmental concern using the role of social media
5. Cooperate with potential industrial partners, in addition to national, regional and international institutions involved in waste management and environment research and development.
6. Provide training and education opportunities for students and professionals in the field, and organize public seminars to raise the public awareness to key environmental hazards.

• Establish a multi-disciplinary research group working with renowned expertise on specific areas of interest to United Arab Emirates and the MENA region. 
• Involve the community in the design process and applications considering consumers’ demands for customized products. 
• Establish ZERO Waste R&D facility for the use of students, researchers and community. 
• Produce technical reports for industrial and governmental consultations. 
• Produce prototype models out of the use of 3D printer out of recycled materials.