The Doctor of Design (DDes) is designed to cater to the needs of influential industrial leaders, educators, and researchers who are seeking a professional doctorate in design. The DDes represents an alternative path to the achievement of a doctoral qualification. This is a self-financed credit-based programme offered in a mixed mode of study. Subjects are designed to accommodate the learning needs of mature and experienced leaders and educators already holding a master’s degree in relevant disciplines or equivalent qualifications. The DDes programme at the School of Design strives to be the leading professional doctoral programme in Asia, offering training in practice-based research skills and developing interdisciplinary intellectual capability.

Aims

This programme aims to generate researcher–designers capable of performing practice-based research on design and with a good understanding of how to extend their professional practices. Our students will contribute substantial knowledge to society and devise novel solutions to societal problems by accessing the potential that has previously lain dormant within them.

The programme strongly encourages the development of analytical capabilities in addition to design skills, instructs students in a variety of research approaches, and promotes an attitude of collaboration.

Characteristics

• Practice-based research: Advancing different design fields for societal development and system changes.
• Trans-disciplinary: Application of research knowledge related to design across a wide range of disciplinary boundaries to influence the future design industry and community.
• Flexible programme structure and outcome: Customisable to meet the ever-changing demands and needs of the market and students for increased knowledge of Design.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the programme, the graduate will be able to:

1. Gear toward applied and practice-based research and individual investigation to identify professional interests and exhibit specific design outcomes.
2. Produce a well-structured professional work suitable for international publishing in scholarly journals and/or other competitive distribution and exhibition venues regarding its level of abilities in composition and articulation, and its ethos.
3. Develop a thesis that satisfies the standards of the university and makes a significant intellectual contribution to the subject of Design research and society at large.
4. Create a constructive strategy for an innovative solution that can solve challenging problems in complicated environments.
5. Become a self-regulated critical thinker who executes decisions at the executive level to impact society.
6. Translate design inputs into an attractive and compelling narrative that can impact future well-being.
7. Leverage the professional knowledge and skill of a supervisor as well as a mindset of creativity and innovation as an effective leader; constantly seeking opportunities and changes to analyse and improve solutions in their respective fields.
8. Pursue knowledge of leadership qualities and characteristics and understanding of Design Thinking and problem-solving in collaboration with people from various professions to develop organisational strategies.
9. Being aware of design impacts for the new era, evaluating impacts in the design works, and expanding the impact to build meaningful success.