The In, Through and About of the Design PhD

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cover cubic journal issue 7

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DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31182/cubic.2024.7.64

Published

2024-12-31

Issue

No. 7 (2024): PhD Design and the Design PhD — In · Through · About

Section

Editorial

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Copyright (c) 2024 Anne Boddington, Gerhard Bruyns

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

The In, Through and About of the Design PhD. (2024). Cubic Journal, 7(7), 4-13. https://doi.org/10.31182/cubic.2024.7.64

Abstract

This seventh number Cubic Journal was originally conceived to capture emerging discussions about the contested roles of PhD design and a design PhD and was fuelled by the experiences of COVID-19.

On reflection, and in compiling this issue under the title ‘PhD Design and Design PhD: In, Through and About’, it is clear that there are still many valid and important questions about the incremental next steps and the value of the doctoral experience and its outcomes. Through doctoral education and bringing together design researchers and an expanded portfolio of research design opportunities, there is the potential to rebalance and strengthen human capabilities that complement and counteract emerging technologies that can limit our agency and ability to think, wrestle with and give form to ideas as well as balance our capacity to develop both IQ and EQ.

This collection of papers is only the beginning of how doctoral studies and design training can evolve, contribute to advancing research and develop the capability, collaboration, compassion, creativity and courage that distinguish and highlight the integrity of research beyond what is invisible, intangible, searchable and discoverable, even if rarely read, understood or impactful.

Author Biographies

  • Anne Boddington, Kingston University

    Anne Boddington is Professor Emerita of Design Innovation and has held executive and senior leadership roles in Higher Education including as Dean of Arts & Humanities and Pro Vice Chancellor for Research, Business & Innovation. Between 2018-22 she chaired the UK’s REF2021, Sub Panel (32) for Art & Design: History, Practice & Theory and has broad experience of academic governance, peer review, research evaluation and assessment and for over nine years she was Deputy Chair and a trustee of the Design Council, the UK government’s strategic advisor for design. She is currently a member of the InnoHK Scientific Committee (Hong Kong) and the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ). She now works as an independent consultant, strategic advisor and mentor, committed to delivering equity, diversity, and inclusion in practice, supporting career development and developing effective governance, integrity, and productivity.

  • Gerhard Bruyns, Hong Kong Polytechnic University

    Dr. ir. Gerhard Bruyn, Associate Professor, is a tenured member of the research faculty at the School of Design, currently serving as the Director of the Postgraduate Research Programme (PhD) and Associate Dean of Academic Programmes for the School. Trained as an architect in South Africa, he holds an MSc and a PhD from TU Delft. He has lectured and contributed to architectural and urbanism education globally in Europe, South Africa, South America, and Asia. He serves on the executive team of the International Forum on Urbanism (IFOU), holds the position of Associate Editor for Design Studies (Elsevier), and is the editor-in-chief of PolyU’s Cubic Journal – Design Social, Economies, Making.