Doctorate in Design

About the course

The Professional Doctorate in Design (DDes) brings together expertise from a wide range of design disciplines, including architecture, the built environment, product design, interaction design, and graphic design. The programme is designed to support your academic and career goals, whether you’re already an established professional, an emerging scholar, or looking to move into research or a new area of practice. 

Whether you’re part of an existing practice, working independently, self-employed, or exploring a new professional direction during your studies, you will benefit from personalised guidance, dedicated time on campus, and access to state-of-the-art studios and facilities. 

Collaboration is at the heart of the programme. At the University of Hertfordshire, the research centres create a dynamic environment where you can exchange ideas across disciplines and drive innovation. You will receive tailored support to help you build on your professional experience as you refine your research questions and address pressing global challenges such as sustainable cities, responsible consumption, and climate action. 

When you complete the doctorate, your final research portfolio will bring together written work and practical outputs. You will have the opportunity to showcase your work through publications, exhibitions, and conferences; demonstrating the context, methods, and impact of your research. 

Contact

For more information, please contact:
Programme Director, Dr Beniamino Polimeni, b.polimeni@herts.ac.uk
Associated Dean Research, Prof Steven Adams, s.adams@herts.ac.uk
Research Tutor Dr Laura Mee, l.mee2@hert.ac.uk  

Frequently Asked Questions

Structure

You can undertake the course full-time over three years or part-time over six years. You may also be able to complete the course in a shorter timeframe if you make satisfactory academic progress and receive approval from your supervisory team and the doctoral college. 

The programme is primarily delivered at the University of Hertfordshire, giving you access to the University’s facilities and enabling you to engage closely with local research groups. However, you also have the option to complete your studies while living in your home country. If you choose this route, you will be expected to take part in seminars, research events, and professional development activities, both online and during scheduled campus visits. 

The Doctorate in Design is structured in three phases: 

• In the first phase, you will refine your research questions, establish appropriate methodologies, and shape the direction of your project. A set of development programmes will help you build essential academic and research skills, giving you a strong foundation in the philosophical and theoretical frameworks that underpin academic research. These modules also explore the relationship between scholarly investigation and professional design practice. By the end of your first year, you will be expected to have defined your approach and to move into your individually supervised project. 
• The second stage focuses on collecting and analysing data. You will use findings from fieldwork or creative practice to shape your research further, strengthening the relationship between theory and practice. This phase encourages you to critically engage with your findings and ensures that your data meaningfully informs the development of your project’s outputs. 
• By the third year, the final phase begins, bringing together all elements of your work. You will synthesise your findings, refine your ideas, and articulate the overall contribution of your research. You will produce a written thesis alongside practice-based outputs, presenting the full scope of your study, including its context, methodology, outcomes, and relevance. Your final submission will demonstrate original thinking and critical depth, making a meaningful contribution to both academic and professional design practice. 

Throughout the degree, you will be expected to let practice and theory work hand in hand, resulting in a coherent and intellectually robust approach to doctoral-level design research. 

Supervision 

Once you’re admitted, you will be assigned a Principal Supervisor and one or two Second Supervisors. Your supervisors are chosen based on your research topic and the conversations you have during your interview. Throughout your doctoral journey, your supervisory team will guide your academic work, support your development, help you build valuable networks, and offer advice all the way through to your final thesis and portfolio submission.

Further Support 

You’re encouraged to use the University’s Proposal Writing Guidelines for clear, practical advice on how to prepare a strong and well-structured proposal. These guidelines are regularly updated to help you develop your research questions, organize your content, and make sure your application meets the expectations of practice-based doctoral study. 

Monitoring 

Whether you’re studying full-time or part-time, your research and supervision will be reviewed each year. A panel appointed by the Research Degrees Board will check in on your progress according to the set schedule. The panel will include at least one of your supervisors and an independent member. They’ll look at how your work is developing, give feedback, and may suggest updates to your research plan if needed. 

Teaching methods

Guidance for learning and research is provided through a combination of structured supervision sessions, detailed discussions of key theoretical and practical issues in seminars and workshops, and active engagement with DDes online resources via the University’s web-based Managed Learning Environment. In addition, candidates participate in the University’s Researcher Development Training Programme and are encouraged to attend research conferences organised by various research groups across the University, further enhancing their scholarly expertise, critical reflection, and professional development within the broader research community.

Course experts

Dr Beniamino Polimeni

Find out more about Dr Beniamino Polimeni

Prof Steven Adams

Find out more about Prof Steven Adams

What’s next for my career?

• Earn an internationally recognised UK Doctorate in Design that combines both a written thesis and practical work. 
• Study part-time from anywhere in the world through a flexible virtual research environment, with just one annual visit to campus. 
• Engage directly with global conversations on the nature of research in creative fields. 
• Develop diverse conceptual and practical skills tailored to your professional goals. 
• Benefit from structured assignments that build a solid foundation in practice-led research and explore the connection between academic rigour and professional practice. 
• Undertake individually supervised research focused on your area of expertise. 

Course fees

View research degree fees for UK and EU students.

View research degree fees for international students.