We are curious on how the child-centered design approach influences the final play design, like an object or a space. What role does the design discipline, like industrial design or communication design, plays in the design of the play object. And what are the potentials for the industry of working more child-centered in their play design process and in the final play design.
Examples of questions and contexts that could be studied in the PhD:
- What is a child-centered play design and how does the child-centered deign approach influence the specific play design?
- How to design for child-centered play opportunities in city development projects?
- How does the new LEGO set look like, if it is designed based on a child-centered design process?
- What is child-centered learning through play and how to design for that?
- How is a child-centered playground developed and designed for the relevancy of children, and how can the relevancy be concluded on?
- Which opportunities and challenges are there in using the child-centered design approach in the play design industry or other commercial companies?
- How to create a building for future potential of design, play, learning and creativity?
- What is needed for designing for playfulness in other areas than design, like architecture?
- How to use a playful approach to design for a playful life?
- Which role does the design discipline plays in child-centered design for play?
Inspiration to the design research methodology:
- Research through design
- Practise-based design research
- Constructive design research
- Programmatic design research
- Design experiments
- Design anthropology
- User-centered design
- Participatory design
It is expected that the applicant has a background within industrial design, textile design, fashion design, interaction design, communication design or another relevant design discipline.
The PhD student will be teaching at the BA/MA educations at Design School Kolding especially in courses related to design of play, experience, and learning. A suggestion and overview of how the PhD student can suggest to do so will be a preparation for the applicant to present if selected for an interview for the PhD position.
The proposed PhD project must follow the general rules for the doctoral program. We will prioritize proposals specifically pursuing an article-based dissertation consisting of a plurality of components or articles that are related in content and/or method, which is unified by a summary of the three general aspects mentioned in section 5.2 in the guidelines.
It is a basic requirement in the application:
- to demonstrate an understanding of the fields of research within play, children and methodologies related to children and childhood
- to have a plausible and clearly expressed research question. You are welcome to add a few sub-research questions as well.
- to have a clear description of the 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.
Applications will be assessed, among other factors, according to the richness and interest of the topic; the clarity of the explanation of how it might be explored; its relation to design research and practice, and especially the fit with the projects and teaching at DSKD.
The application must have the following sections:
- Introduction to the PhD project
- A positioning according to the fields to show familiarity with the field; indication of theory of research in design for play, experience and learning in the cultural sector.
- The research question clearly indicated including how it intends to contribute to the double concern as outlined on the first page.
- Proposed design research methodology.
- An account of the nature of the empirical data to be generated
- Bibliography/references
The Facts
The position is a full-time position and salary is according to the current collective agreement that regulates the Danish labour market. For the application to be considered, all three points listed below must be addressed with all mentioned materials enclosed:
- PhD research project description of 4-6 pages. The project description should contain a letter of motivation including thoughts on the kind of design research to be pursued, overview of existing knowledge, a theoretical base, research question(s) clearly expressed, suggestive research methodology, an account of the empirical material/data which the applicant expects to generate, and finally a preliminary research plan.
- A CV indicating educational levels and achievements as well as work experience. It is also possible to send a 5 pages portfolio.
- Diploma or alternatively a complete transcript of records MA degree. 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 oral and written English communication skills.
The application and materials must be in English or Danish.
Our school has the policy that if we employ a person unfamiliar with the Danish language, then the person is obliged to develop skills to communicate in Danish society within two years.
Please apply through Design School Kolding’s recruitment system which you find on the advertisement at the school’s website.
After the application deadline, a shortlist of the most promising applications will be made, which will then be assessed. When the committee has finished its review procedure, each shortlisted applicant will receive an assessment of his or her application.
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 application deadline is October 1, 2022, and the assessment will happen shortly thereafter.
The position is to be filled by February 2023 or as soon as possible thereafter.
For further information, please contact secretary of research and development Christina Stind Rosendahl, phone +45 91 33 30 04 or mail: csr@dskd.dk, Assistant Professor Karen Feder kaf@dskd.dk or Professor Helle Marie Skovbjerg skovbjerg@dskd.dk, both associated with LAB Design for Play.
Also, please read the Design School Kolding Research Strategy or pay a visit to the school website: www.designskolenkolding.dk
Read the job description at the schools´s homepage
Design School Kolding is an independent institution under the auspices of the Ministry of Higher Education and Science. We offer high quality BA, MA and PhD Degree programs with teaching based on innovative practice and research in close collaboration with the business community. We also offer continuing education courses and consultancy services. Our BA program comprises four study programs, Communication Design, Industrial Design, Fashion & Textile Design, and Accessory Design, including interdisciplinary courses within methods, aesthetics, design history, the history of science as well as form studies. Our MA program is an international, cross-disciplinary program that supports and challenges the above-mentioned design fields and allows students to specialize in one of three programmes: Design for Play, Design for Planet and Design for People. Areas in which we also dedicate our research and development activities.
Design School Kolding has approximately 100 fulltime employees. The school offers a dynamic work environment with dedicated colleagues from many different backgrounds. The atmosphere enriches daily work and brings life to the old factory building, which is constantly changing to suit the school’s needs.
With three overall strategic areas of social design, sustainability and design, and design for Play, Design School Kolding is dedicated to improving the world through design. This also means that Design School Kolding has a strong focus on creating an education that is relevant and aimed towards future employability. Another way of strengthening the education is by having research aimed towards the programmes, as well as towards the strategic areas. The research thus supports and develops the teaching while ensuring that there is cross-pollination between research and teaching with the researchers often using the student projects as data for their research. We offer a dynamic, internationally oriented education and research environment with close collaborations with external actors and research environments.
As a leading design university, Design School Kolding is in continuous development to be at the forefront of the expectations for future designers, including increased focus on digital competencies. The school is education and research accredited and has a positive institutional accreditation. The latter means that the school officially lives up to the requirements of offering good and relevant education in an environment that promotes openness and dialogue.
Also, please read the Design School Kolding Research Strategy or pay a visit to the school’s website.
Post expires on Saturday October 1st, 2022
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