Design degrees have been around for only a few decades. Doctorates have a shorter history but there has been an increasing volume of PhD students. However, it seems that design research Ethos is still object of much discussion until today. In January 2021, I had the opportunity to present the work developed for IcoRD21 about the lack of connection between PhDs in Portugal, inspiring much discussion on the topic:
Mapping the research thread of PhDs in Design: a PhD citation analysis of the Portuguese doctorates
The audience, composed by Portuguese design teachers, project coordinators and inspiring PhD scholars, raised important questions regarding the researcher’s drive and the willingness to “break the weel”, “thinking out of the box”. This characteristic modus-operandi, quite typical in design practice, is important. However, is it fully compatible with the purpose of research? Making sense of previous work, criticising it and/or building on it, are key activities when undertaking design (and in fact any) research.
What an exciting journey this is! Let me know what you think in the form (contact).
