PhD-position in Universel Design to Design School Kolding

BEMÆRK: Ansøgningsfristen er overskredet

PhD position in Universal Design at Design School Kolding

We hereby invite proposals for PhD research projects with a strong design focus. It could be within Industrial Design/product design, Fashion Design, Communication Design or Social Design.
It is a prerequisite that the project:

a) contributes to the field of Universal Design (UD) or its cognates, ‘Inclusive Design’ and ‘Design for All’ by involving people challenged by certain physical disabilities, and
b) is based upon approaches and methods of artistic design research which means it is based on a collection of new and creative design work.

Universal Design is a relatively new research field in Denmark, and as a PhD-student you will play a prominent role in building up this important field. The PhD project is part of Design School Kolding’s strategy that focuses on development of Universal Design in our research and teaching. The work is partly funded by a grant from the Bevica Foundation. The successful applicant will be able to make use of Bevica´s extensive and well-established network in disability support and advocacy. You will also be part of the Bevica Foundations National Network for PhD-students and Post Doc’s working in the field of Universal Design in Denmark.

The PhD student will be part of one of the three laboratories at Design School Kolding, the Lab for Social Design to which theme the work is ultimately related. Lab for Social Design conduct research and artistic research with the aim to create social and cultural change. We explore social sustainable and inclusive futures within social design, social innovation and welfare design. We do this through democratic design experiments that uses material oriented- and visual approaches and methods. Complex social and societal challenges as the point of departure. The approach is co-creative (co-design), empathetic and performative. The ambition is that all children and adults can unfold their full potential in all phases of life – also when life hurts.

The proposed PhD project must follow the general rules for the PhD program. You can read more about the PhD Programme and existing rules here.

We will prioritize proposals specifically pursuing artistic research and leading to ‘A dissertation based on a body of work’ (‘Works to be understood as creative productions, design objects, experiments with fabrication, etc.’).

It is a basic requirement in the application:

• to demonstrate an understanding of the field of Universal Design generally,
• to indicate a specific sub-area of interest within Universal Design which addresses people with some kind of physical disabilities,
• to have a plausible and clearly expressed research question (yes/no questions and long, multi-clausal abstract questions are undesirable). You are welcome to add a few sub-research questions as well.
• to have a clear description of the universal design research process by which the question(s) might be answered (what are you going to do to answer the question(s)?).
• to include a preliminary research plan. Applicants are encouraged to clearly outline a practice-based approach with focus on Universal Design (or the above related areas) within the field of product design/industrial design based on specific experiments.

Applications will be assessed, among other factors, according to the depth and interest of the topic – including how it fits with the schools- and Labs for Social Designs overall strategy. We will assess the clarity of the description of how the topic is to be explored as well as the relationship to existing design research and practice. You must relate the application to existing practices of design research e.g. research through design and also to research design in general.

The application (PhD project description) must have the following sections:

1. Introduction to the PhD project
2. Literature review of Universal Design or the related fields to show state of the art and familiarity with the field; indication of theory of research in design and also research in general.
3. The research question clearly indicated including how it contributes to the field of Universal Design or its cognates, ‘Inclusive Design’ and ‘Design for All’.
4. Proposed design research methodology.
5. An account of the nature of the empirical data to be generated and whom to collaborate with.
6. Bibliography/references

Terms of employment

The position is a permanent, full-time position.

Employment and salary take place in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance, Decleration on the position structure for artistic and scientific staff at the Royal Danish Academy – Architecture, Design, Conservation, Aarhus School of Architecture and Design School Kolding and the organization entitled to negotiate.


Application process

For the application to be considered, all three points listed below must be addressed with all mentioned materials attached:

• PhD research project description of 4-6 pages. The project description should contain a letter of motivation including thoughts on the kind of artistic design research to be pursued, overview of existing knowledge, a theoretical base, research question(s) clearly expressed, research methodology, an account of the empirical material/data which the applicant expects to generate, and finally a preliminary research plan.
• CV of maximum 1 page. It is also possible to send a 5 pages portfolio.
• Diploma or alternatively a complete transcript of records (for BA and MA degrees). In order to be considered for the position, the applicant must have, as a minimum, a two-year MA degree, preferably from a design program, prior to the date of appointment.

The applicant must further have a fluent, fault-free oral and written English communication skills. The application and materials must be in English or Danish and both Danish and international applications are welcome.

The school’s policy states that new employees unfamiliar with the Danish language is expected to develop skills to communicate in Danish.

Please apply through Design School Kolding’s recruitment system which can be accessed under job vacancies on Design Schools Kolding's website. Please note that we do not process applications received per mail.

After the application deadline, a shortlist of the most promising applications will be made, which will then be assessed. When the committee has completed its review procedure, each shortlisted applicant will receive a assessment of their application.

The application deadline is December 1st 2023. The assessment will happen shortly thereafter.

This advertisement is also available in Danish. We welcome both national and international applications.

Design School Kolding wishes to reflect its surrounding community and encourages anyone to apply for the position, irrespective of personal background.

The position is to be filled by January 1st 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter.

For further information, please contact Quality Coordinator, Secretary of Research and Development Christina Stind Rosendahl, phone +45 91 33 30 04/csr@dskd.dk or Associate Professor in Universel Design Richard Herriot on rhe@dskd.dk.

INFORMATIONER OM STILLINGEN:

- Arbejdspladsen ligger i:

Kolding Kommune

-Virksomheden tilbyder:

-Arbejdsgiver:

Designskolen Kolding, Dyrehavevej, 6000 Kolding

-Ansøgning:

Ansøgningsfrist: 01-12-2023; - ansøgningsfristen er overskredet

Se mere her: https://job.jobnet.dk/CV/FindWork/Details/5931290