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Students
Tuition Fee
USD 24,949
Per year
Start Date
Medium of studying
On campus
Duration
73 months
Program Facts
Program Details
Degree
PhD
Major
Design | Graphic Design | Visual Communications
Area of study
Arts
Education type
On campus
Timing
Full time
Course Language
English
Tuition Fee
Average International Tuition Fee
USD 24,949
Intakes
Program start dateApplication deadline
2023-04-24-
2023-09-19-
2024-01-09-
About Program

Program Overview


Research profile

Brunel Design has a well-established record of research excellence, with multidisciplinary, product-related design research grounded on strong engineering design traditions.  Research activities within the design programmes at Brunel cover a wide-ranging and diverse field of topics. Academic staff involved within these programmes combine human-centred design for autonomous vehicles, ageing demographics and healthcare systems; from incorporating sustainability in design by developing cleaner electronics, design for 3D and 4D printing, and incorporating social responsibility; to using innovative design for creative industries and information architecture.

Research in Design is organised according to the following thematic priorities:

  • Human-Centred Design through inclusive design, design for ageing demographics, perception and enhancement.
  • Sustainable Design through social responsibility, cleaner electronics and advanced materials and manufacture.
  • Advanced Technologies through engineering methods, optimization techniques, computer-aided-design and other emerging technologies.
  • Products, services and digital design through design innovation management, open design, design entrepreneurship, creativity, the digital economy, digital production and interfaces, and Information Architecture.
  • The department’s scope of research includes but is not limited to:

  • Human Centred Design
  • Trust in autonomous vehicles
  • Inclusive Design and Design of Healthcare Systems
  • Perception Enhancement
  • Design and Sustainability - theory, methods and tools
  • Design for 3D Printing (Additive Manufacturing) and Printed Electronics
  • 4D Printing /  Shape Memory Materials for Additive Manufacturing
  • Social impact of Distributed Manufacturing Systems
  • Design Innovation Management
  • Digital Design, Interfaces and Digital Production
  • Open Design and Co-Design
  • Social Innovation
  • Pedagogy and Curriculum
  • Research students are welcomed as valued members of our thriving, research-intensive community in Brunel Design. Our doctoral researchers join the Made in Brunel team in the annual final year project showcase and lead-up events. In addition, our yearly Design Doctoral Symposium, as well as social events, enable you to foster vibrant connections with the outside research community.

    Find out about the exciting research we do in this area. Browse profiles of our experts, discover the research groups and their inspirational research activities you too could be part of. We’ve also made available extensive reading materials published by our academics and PhD students.

    Learn more about research in this area.





    Browse the work of subject-relevant research groups

  • Design for Sustainability
  • Inclusive Design
  • Creative Computing
  • Digital Design Lab
  • Human-centred Design
  • Smart Technology Advancements in Health and Rehabilitation
  • Additive Manufacturing and 4D Printing
  • You can explore our campus and facilities for yourself by taking our virtual tour.

    Program Outline

    Research journey

    This course can be studied 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time, starting in January. Or this course can be studied 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time, starting in October. Or this course can be studied 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time, starting in April.

    Find out about what progress might look like at each stage of study here: Research degree progress structure.



    Careers and your future

    You will receive tailored careers support during your PhD and for up to three years after you complete your research at Brunel. We encourage you to actively engage in career planning and managing your personal development right from the start of your research, even (or perhaps especially) if you don't yet have a career path in mind. Our careers provision includes online information and advice, one-to-one consultations and a range of events and workshops. The Professional Development Centre runs a varied programme of careers events throughout the academic year. These include industry insight sessions, recruitment fairs, employer pop-ups and skills workshops.

    In addition, where available, you may be able to undertake some paid work as we recognise that teaching and learning support duties represent an important professional and career development opportunity.

    Find out more.



    Find a supervisor

    Our researchers create knowledge and advance understanding, and equip versatile doctoral researchers with the confidence to apply what they have learnt for the benefit of society. Find out more about working with the Supervisory Team.

    You are welcome to approach your potential supervisor directly to discuss your research interests. Search for expert supervisors for your chosen field of research.


    PhD topics

    While we welcome applications from student with a clear direction for their research, we are providing you with some ideas for your chosen field of research:

  • Additive manufacturing and sustainability, supervised by Eujin Pei
  • Circular design tools for the metal sector, supervised by Fabrizio Ceschin
  • Design fictions, supervised by Joseph Giacomin
  • Design for early detection of symptoms of anxiety and depression in university students, supervised by Federico Colecchia and Daniel Bailey
  • Design for meaning, supervised by Joseph Giacomin
  • Design of digital technology and machine learning solutions for mental health, supervised by Federico Colecchia
  • Design of virtual immersive environments for advanced anatomy training, supervised by Federico Colecchia
  • Design of virtual immersive environments for inclusive multimodal experiences, supervised by Federico Colecchia
  • Design, development, and optimisation of a six-legged robot for hybrid walking and manipulation in challenging environments, supervised by Mingfeng Wang
  • Development of Design Support Systems and Tools for Distributed Manufacturing, supervised by Mohammed Elsouri
  • Development of resilient hospitals through enhanced built environment design and research, supervised by Kangkang Tang
  • Disruptive Digital Experiences, supervised by Harry Agius and Damon Daylamani-Zad
  • Naturalness of autonomous vehicles, supervised by Joseph Giacomin
  • Reliability Analysis of Adhesively Bonded Fibre Reinforced Polymer Composites, supervised by Sadik Omairey and Mihalis Kazilas
  • System design to tackle plastic pollution in the plastic-packaging value chain, supervised by Fabrizio Ceschin
  • Trust In Autonomous Vehicles, supervised by Joseph Giacomin
  • SHOW MORE
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