What is PhD by Design?

26th January 2018
PhD by Design event
Paula Cadima, Mark Cousins, Maria Shéhérazade Giudici, Marina Lathouri, Michael Weinstock, Simos Yannas, chaired by Mark Morris
Across fields, doctoral research conventionally culminates in the format of a text-based dissertation. Within the architectural discourse, a variety of institutions have started to acknowledge the relevance of integrating non-written components into doctoral dissertations in architectural design. A new kind of doctoral programme is therefore in development - often called a PhD by Design. Within the AA, doctoral students can pursue their research either through the traditional route of the written dissertation or combine writing with design research for the studio-based PhD in architectural design. However, there is presently a lack of consensus within the AA regarding what a PhD by Design actually means. The convoluted understanding of the non-written component necessitates an open conversation between doctoral supervisors and students. How can one find common ground in comparing different approaches to a PhD by Design?
Chaired by Mark Morris, Head of Teaching and Learning at the AA, the event seeks to mirror a student’s initial entry into doctoral research itself: in response to a given topic formulated as a PhD by Design proposal, doctoral supervisors are asked to submit a research proposal comprising 500 words and non-written components (ie, two to three images) - to be included in a publication following the symposium - and present and discuss their individual. This format can allow for a comparative overview of different approaches to a PhD by design.
The invited speakers will respond to the following topic and subject matter:
An ever widening range of political, economic or ecological causes for displacement have forced humankind to rethink the notion of social integration and permanence in the built environment. In any way imaginable, the research proposal shall frame and deal with the problematic and relevance of the relation between the built environment and different the protagonists of displacement; commuters, expats, migrants and refugees.

[@phyphorous]

PhD in Design isn't about anything else, but re-defining the real world problem of, I have the requirements but I have no authority. This is taking a step into advancing the need for the society to accept the need for more than an advance engineering degree or MBA, and shine a light onto the importance of design that's critical within advancement of human beings in a society that requires critical thinking more than how to put blocks together without thinking about the issues that's currently present for the world.
Ultimately, this has to be the program that is for the guardians of critical thinking that goes beyond efficiencies, to provide innovations that provide cost savings with consideration for the wellbeing of the world.

[@fabianalvaradoaguilar5361]

Everything is design, has design, and becomes design. "To define is to limit." Stop bureaucracy and traditional operations involving academic achievements in order to participate in higher education / governmental positions. Its almost 2020, experience design, poetry, and art; don´t label them. Critical thinking and valuable theoritical frameworks are developed in each individual according to its own spiritual value. Thank you, Sofía Blanco, for introducing me to Jean Arp. May our souls be together in eternity.

[@shell4331]

If everything "is design, has design, and becomes design", as you said, then the premise of "PhD by Design" is a tautology that serves no purpose as all the other types of PhDs are, have or will become design... Also, the establishment of limits is architecture's core principle and what determines a critique as opposed to 'critical thinking' (whatever that means).