Annual open call for an Artefact-based PhD Scholarship

Kolding School of Design invites proposals for an artefact-based PhD project, that addresses fundamental design aspects, such as form, function, aesthetics, materials, interaction and communication within the context of the design disciplines.

Kolding School of Design welcomes proposals for artefact-based PhD projects aiming to generate novel insights through artefacts into design as both a material (analogue and digital) phenomenon and a practice. The concrete theme of the PhD is open, but applicants are advised to carefully investigate the fundamental design disciplines of the school – Fashion and Clothing, Textile, Accessory, Communication, or Industrial design – and connect and explain how the PhD proposal can potentially advance knowledge within one of these. A PhD proposal can likewise connect with knowledge related to the school’s strategic areas – Sustainability design, Social Design, Design for Play – but this is not required.

In an artefact-based PhD project, the PhD student is expected to produce artefacts, understood as creative productions, design objects, design experiments and interventions, and through those contribute significantly to the research created in the project. The new knowledge generated by this project should have the potential to contribute to the development of innovative approaches to contemporary design and/or design solutions.

Formalities

The proposed PhD project must follow the executive order and the general rules for the PhD programme at Kolding School of Design.

An artefact-based PhD project consists of a dissertation and a collection of artefacts that together summarise and validate the insights extracted from the project work. The dissertation must account for new knowledge and insights, the methods and theories applied and the connection with other knowledge in the field. The artefacts should materialise, document, examplify and/or put the research insights into perspective. Together the dissertation and artefacts should give a thorough impression of the PhD student's research work.

Applicant

In order to be considered for the position, the applicant must have:

• A relevant two-year Master’s degree (120 ECTS) from a design programme or equivalent.
• Advanced oral and written English communication skills 
• Familiarity with contemporary design practices 
• Familiarity with design research literature 

Application

We invite applicants to submit an outline of a well-defined project that can be explored through design-based experiments within aesthetics, form, materials, interaction and communication along with relevant research inquiries and the corresponding theoretical perspectives and research methodologies such as research through design, practice based design research, design based research, design action research, design anthropology or similar.

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

• Motivational letter or application text
  • Project description of 4-6 pages, that should contain an outline of the project to be pursued including:
  • clearly expressed research question(s)
  • a theoretical, practical and artistic base for the project including research methodology visuals of related artistic practices et cetera
  • a literature review of the field of interest for the project to show state of the art and familiarity with the field
  • a preliminary account of the empirical experiments/material/data which the applicant expects to generate
  • an outline of a timetable covering the three years
  • a brief assessment of the potential contribution in contemporary design
• CV of 1-2 pages
• Curated portfolio of maximum 16 pages highlighting relevant design competences
• Diploma or alternatively a complete transcript of records (for BA and MA degrees)

The application and materials must be in English or Danish. 

Application process

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, shortlisted applicants will receive feedback on their application. 

The application deadline is August 24, 2025 kl. 23.59. Interviews will be held in October. The position is to be filled by January 1, 2026.

 

Position

The position is a full-time position and salary is according to the current collective agreement that regulates the Danish labour market. The PhD student will be employed at Kolding School of Design and enrolled at the institution's PhD school.

The PhD student will be part of one of the three laboratories at Design School Kolding: Lab for Play and Design, Lab for Social Design and Lab for Sustainability and Design.

About us 

We welcome both national and international applications. Kolding School of Design wishes to reflect its surrounding community and encourages anyone to apply for the position, irrespective of personal background.

Please note, Kolding School of Design has a policy that requires new employees unfamiliar with the Danish language to develop skills to communicate in Danish society within three years. 

For further information, please contact secretary of research and development Christina Stind Rosendahl, phone +45 91 33 30 04 or mail: csr@dskd.dk.

You can find more information about the PhD programme at Design School Kolding as well as a FAQ about applying for PhD positions at our website.

Also, please read Kolding School of Design’s Research Strategy or pay a visit to the school website.