As research into, through, and for art and design (Frayling, 1993) becomes increasingly commonplace, practice-led PhD contributions have advanced the acceptance of embodied knowledge in creative processes and outcomes (Biggs and Karlsson, 2011). However, guidelines and recommendations surrounding the components of PhD submissions range from broadly abstract accounts that draw from existing theoretical research (Frankel and Racine, 2010), to specific instances of practice (Gray and Malins, 2004). It can therefore be argued that these overlook the joint presentation and interpretation of the portfolio and thesis, and the consequences these have on how practice-led research is disseminated to varying audiences (Engels-Schwarzpaul, 2008).

In this paper I discuss the relationship between the content and format of my PhD research. Situated in the field of human-centred design, this explores the visual and participatory methods that designers use to stimulate dialogue with users and stakeholders surrounding their experiences, needs, and aspirations. My practice raised questions surrounding the human-centred designer’s multifaceted role as a visual maker, facilitator, and analyst, and their impact on the direction of the design process. In turn, I devised a five-stage participatory-reflexive methodology to orient myself in three sociocultural case study settings, engage with participants, and collect and analyse intersubjective insights. Conceptualised as the original contribution to knowledge, I explain how this framework informed my decisions when delineating visual, material, and written components within my submission. Acknowledging initial iterations and their shortcomings, I consider the implications of the dissemination of knowledge through combinations of images, artefacts, and text in practice-led research.

References

Biggs, Michael and Henrik Karlsson, eds (2011) The Routledge Companion to Research in the Arts, Oxon: Routledge

Engels-Schwarzpaul, Anna-Christina (2008) ‘At a Loss for Words? Hostile to Language? Interpretation in Creative Practice-Led PhD Projects’, in Working Papers in Art and Design, vol. 5., available from <herts.ac.uk/research/ssahri/research-areas/art-design/research-into-practice-group/production/working-papers-in-art-and-design-journal/volume-5-research-into-practive-2008> accessed 20/01/14

Frankel, Lois and Martin Racine (2010) ‘The Complex Field of Research: for Design, through Design, and about Design’, in Proceedings of Design and Complexity: Design Research Society International Conference, July 2010, Montreal, 518–529

Frayling, Christopher (1993) 'Research in Art and Design', in Royal College of Art Research Papers, London: Royal College of Art, vol. 1. no. 1, 1–5

Gray, Carole and Julian Malins, eds (2004) Visualizing Research: A Guide to the Research Process in Art and Design, Aldershot: Ashgate