The following research, divided into four deliverables (“Explication of Tacit Knowledge” Deliverable 9 – Collection of Data/ “Explication of Tacit Knowledge” Deliverable 10 – Interpretation / ”Refinement and Explication of Methods” Deliverable 11 – Collection of Data /” Refinement and Explication of Methods” Deliverable 11b – Interpretation), is the result of a year of studying the role of Tacit Knowledge and the relevance of methods in practice-based research. The study drew on the reflections and research undertaken by a group of practice-based PhD candidates from different creative disciplines, such as architecture, landscape architecture, design and visual art, coming from Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Candidates and authors of the research were part of a network of practitioners created by the ADAPT-r ITN Project (www.adapt-r.eu). Seven European institutions participated for three years in this project: Glasgow School of Art, RMIT Europe, Estonian Academy of Arts, Aarhus School of Architecture, KU Leuven, University of Westminster, University of Ljubljana.

The project aimed to foster and disseminate the model of the practice-based PhD in Europe, training new researchers and creating a new network of innovative researchers. Key elements and “place and moment” of the ADAPT-r Methodology were the Practice Research Symposium (PRS), which were held twice a year at RMIT Europe (Barcelona) and KU Leuven (Ghent). Those moments represented a collective space of learning for the researchers/practitioners (together with supervisors and peers) in both formal and informal ways and were moments of discussion and encounter within the community where the candidates were able to show their progress in the research in a space of friendliness and generosity.

The authors of the research, Dr. Dorotea Ottaviani (GSA), Dr. Alice Buoli (Estonian Academy of Arts), and Dr. Cecilia De Marinis (RMIT Barcelona), approached the theme using qualitative research methodology: interviewing practitioners about their research; designing and leading workshops on the topics of Tacit Knowledge and Research Methods; running roundtables with PhD supervisors; undertaking field-trips with practitioners and observing the results and development of their research in the PRS presentations.

The results of this research are explained through three main branches of interpretation: diagrams (explicating the structure of the project and the methodology fostered by ADAPT-r), ‘focused views’ (namely individual accounts of a selection of Venturous Creative Practices, with a description and interpretation of each practice through the reading keys of Tacit Knowledge and Refinement and Explication of Methods) and ‘cross views’ (accounts of the ‘fields’ of interest emerged from the exploration of the practitioners’ work, fields that are common to several practitioners, although explored in personal and individual way).

The research, leading to these results, received funding from the People Programme (Marie Curie Actions) of the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme FP7/2007- 2013/ under REA grant agreement n° 317325.