Guiding the PhD in design: Experiences from six programs

In the DoCS4Design project, six established PhD programmes in design pooled and compared the diversity in their practices in guiding PhDs (e.g., 3- or 4-year programmes, small or large amounts of formal education, small or large numbers of staff and students). Panelists from the six programmes discussed these differences together with 60 conference participants. Starting from a review of practices at the six programmes (the ‘Map & Glossary’), the conversation covered several themes: strategic and institutional aspects of the PhD programs, logistical and administrative aspects of these programs, and fundamentally: how (diversely) do we define what is the PhD in Design. The conversation then explored how the programs, DRS and other design organizations could be more effective in supporting PhD students, advisors, and programmes, and deal with new requirements, e.g., toward more interdisciplinary and more international experience, and preparing PhD students to take leadership in research teams more than being solitary researchers.