Hi Mark, Martyn and all
Mark wrote:
I'd therefore like to offer up the potentially controversial
position that PhD's that include practice as a research method should,
preferably, be supervised by academics that have considerable experience
as practitioners
This sounds like a good idea. I don't know how it is in your part of the world, but at the moment here in Australia it is just not feasible. Perhaps in a decade or so it will be a more likely prospect. When I was hunting around for supervisors in Melbourne, Australia three years ago I was looking for the kind of supervisor you mention: an academic with a sound graphic design practise background. I soon realised there were no academics who fit the bill and were available to supervise. Academics with graphic design-phds seem to be in demand.
Martyn wrote:
In principle I agree that PhD's that include practice as a research
should be supervised by individuals that have experience as
practitioners, but... there are some supervisors who will never be able
to see 'examples of poor practice' irrespective of their level of
experience as practitioners. Perhaps it comes down to nature of
experience as practitioners.
Martyn, you suggest that there are excellent design educators who, although not outstanding designers, have the skill of facilitating excellent design work. Perhaps these people, once they are qualified with a phd themselves, are the best to fit to supervise phds with a design practise element.
Best
Katherine
---
Katherine Hepworth
PhD Candidate
National Institute of Design Research
Swinburne University of Technology
144 High Street Prahran
Victoria 3181 Australia
Telephone +61 9214 6096
Facsimilie +61 3 9521 2665
www.swinburne.edu.au/design
|