Design costs as Research and Development?

I have just started working as a management accountant for a husband and wife clothing and accessories design company. 

They have asked whether the are able to treat any of their design research and sourcing costs as r&d for tax purposes.  They've included travel and accommodation costs in here, which my gut tells me would be a no, but are there any types of design & sourcing research costs that could be treated as r&d?

Thanks