--On Friday, March 17, 2006 1:21 AM -0500 Peter Gariepy 
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> It would be interesting to her from individuals on this list that have
> made  the pursuit of a Ph.D. work with a rewarding outcome (not
> necessarily  monetary).

I am about to complete my PhD in Design from Carnegie Mellon so I thought I 
would add my thoughts to this discussion. These points of view reflect my 
experience in the United States, I would assume there are differences 
elsewhere.

I have found that there are numerous academic jobs available for PhDs in 
Design and not only in Design Depts.  In addition to jobs in Design Depts I 
have also found listings for appropriate positions available in a range of 
fields including Communication, HCI, Information Science, Science and 
Technology Studies, Cultural Studies and related Humanities, and Business. 
In addition to faculty positions there are also some post-doc positions 
that are appropriate to a PhD in Design. In general, I have found the 
academic community welcoming of the the knowledge and skills I have as a 
PhD in design so that moving between fields is not problematic, especially 
if the field itself is interdisciplinary (such as those just mentioned).

A few points about compensation. First,  I agree financial incentive a 
horrible horrible reason to pursue a PhD in Design, or any field. My belief 
is that PhDs are research degrees to prepare for scholarly research in 
either academia or in industry. Most PhDs have little relation to 
professional practice. This is true for many fields, not just design. I 
don't find this at all problematic, indeed I think its appropriate.

That being said,  I have actually found that the industrial design research 
jobs I might pursue are compensated with substantially higher salary that 
without a PhD, and if I had stayed in practice (I was working in a 
world-class design firm before returning to school) I would not be making 
an equal amount to these jobs after five years.

Somewhat problematically, its design schools that offer the least incentive 
for a PhD in Design. The starting salary for a faculty member in the 
humanities or social sciences with a PhD can be 2x the starting salary in a 
design school. A starting faculty position in a engineering  or business 
program (both of which are options for PhDs in Design) program can be 3x 
the starting salary in a design school.   Most design schools don't seem 
ready to reward the PhD financially. In addition, the teaching structure in 
most Design schools does not adequately support a research agenda. I fear, 
as a result, many Design PhDs many choose to teach outside of Design.

Yes, the PhD is a sacrifice. I returned to school after 6 years in 
professional practice and with a family with 2 children. You sacrifice 
financial security, but, if you are neurotically compelled to scholarly 
research, you are rewarded with the ability and the opportunity to set a 
trajectory of lifeline invention and discovery.

Carl