At the School of Design, Film and Art, the four research groups Product & Textile, Visual Narrative, Postdisciplinary Art Research and Transformation Design set the focal points of our research activities. They conduct research into sustainability and circular processes, visual narration, art in societal interaction and socio-economic transformation. Within these thematic areas and across disciplines, more than 30 researchers are qualified to take on the role of a doctoral supervisor. Doctoral candidates are affiliated with the research groups, tackling a multitude of research questions and applying a broad range of methods in their projects.
Pursuing a Doctorate in Design, Film and Art
A doctorate at our School opens up the space to explore and refine artistic, design-related and socially relevant questions beyond disciplinary constraints. If you are interested in developing new perspectives at the intersection of theory, practice, science, design and art, a doctorate with us will give you the framework to experiment, critically reflect and initiate conrecte change. Trans- and postdisciplinary research processes that facilitate the emergence of new forms of knowledge production and design are a hallmark of our work. Across the disciplines of design, film and art we offer varied ways to prepare for an application and learn more about research work.
The points listed below should give you an idea of how to prepare for a doctorate in design, film and art. The order of the different steps may vary:
- A great topic and a convincing exposé are the first milestones on your path towards a doctorate. The exposé may vary in form and scope, but should always answer the following questions:
– What is the research question?
– What is the current state of research and which knowledge gap does the project seek to address?
– Which part of the relevant literature (including, if applicable, artistic projects, exhibitions, etc.) will be referenced and why?
– Which research methods will be used and why?
– The exposé also contains a description of what the author hopes to achieve, as well as the project’s relevance and schedule.
- The exposé may be part of an application for an advertised doctoral position or programme and used in interviews with potential doctoral supervisors. The preparation, development and use of the exposé are part of the PhD Preparation in the Arts continuing education programme.
- Exploring how your own topics, methods and approaches align with those of potential supervisors is a useful way to find a good fit. It is also advisable to attend conferences, courses and exhibitions. Finding a supervisor is a joint process in which availability and mutual compatibility play a role as well. Typically, two supervisors are assigned. In certain cases, there may be three. The SAS 2 course focuses on the strategic selection of one’s supervisor. If you have queries around doctoral supervisors at the Lucerne School of Design, Film and Art, write us here.
- Pursuing a doctorate at our School requires a dissertation topic and/or methodology of relevance to one of our research groups.
- Open doctoral positions at the Lucerne School of Design, Film and Art are advertised under job adverts. Information about our doctoral programmes and cooperations can be found here.
- The admission requirements for a doctorate vary. While a doctorate is typically preceded by an academic master’s degree, a master’s qualification from a different type of university-level institution may be recognised as well, provided the candidate can demonstrate appropriate academic qualifications (see here). The specific admission requirements are determined by the doctorate-awarding university.
- There are different types of doctoral degrees, including: PhD (Doctor of Philosophy), Doctor of Arts (DA) or Dr artium (which is equivalent to a PhD.)
- The conditions for a doctorate differ from one institution to another. In some cases, doctoral study can be undertaken on a full-time or part-time basis. Some institutions provide access to workshops, facilities, and supplementary courses, while others offer a more flexible format combining online and on-campus study. It is advisable to consult the relevant conditions early on in the process.
If you wish to develop an in-depth understanding of these topics, we recommend you attend one of the courses mentioned above. Insights into our research activities can be found on our LinkedIn profile. If you have further questions about undertaking a doctorate with us, you may contact Vicky Kiefer for advice.
