Interdisciplinary digital project design

Abstract

While discussions in digital humanities increasingly emphasise the importance of reflecting on collaborative workflows for interdisciplinary research, attention to specific practical expertise remains lacking. This paper introduces the concept of interdisciplinary digital project design to highlight a professional practice that integrates collaboration between traditional Humanities and Social Science (HSS) researchers and technical experts in developing research projects, digital resources and more. We begin by addressing the need for protocols to support workflow-oriented approaches to interdisciplinary collaboration, while underscoring the role of embodied expertise in facilitating teamwork. Furthermore, we argue that judgement – a critical yet often overlooked element – is an integral aspect of the professionalism involved. The discussion is grounded in descriptions of our contribution to five digital HSS projects, each offering a different perspective on the integrative professionalism involved. The paper concludes by discussing ways to further advance the conceptual understanding of interdisciplinary digital project design, with particular attention to the expertise that underpins this practice.