I think I have identified a familiar theme in Tony Fairlie-Clarke's recent
posting, but apologies to him if I am simply using his name to raise an issue.

While it is true that the PhD is the highest level of academic award, it is
also given for a particular type of [research] study. Some correspondents
would like to be able to give the highest award for the "best"
[studio/professional] work in design. We need to be clear whether a
doctorate, whether practice-based PhD or professional doctorate such as
DDes, is awarded for research or is awarded for level of achievement. At
present the criteria require that both types of doctorate are awarded for
research. In the UK system the highest award that is available for
professionally oriented practice is an MA. This is reinforced by the 1997
[UK] Dearing Report* which describes 8 levels of "degree" study, the top
two of which (level H7 and H8) have a different character.

The above ignores higher doctorates, PhD by published works and honorary
degrees which all function somewhat differently to the mainstream awards,
i.e. BA, MA, PhD.

*Dearing Report properly entitled "Higher Education in the Learning
Society" by The national Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education.
Published by HMSO. ISBN 1-85838-253-X

At 08:17 09/06/00 +0000, you wrote:
>I am returning to this theme as a result of recent contributions under the
>heading "New Foundations for Design Research". It seems to me that
>disagreements in this thread stem from not clearly distinguishing between
>design as an activity and design as an outcome. Research is clearly an
>activity, and in this debate on the juxtaposition of research and design we

>should therefore stick to a viewpoint of design as an activity. The
>outcomes of design activity are extremely varied and can be divided into
>many specialisations. Products, services, processes, schemes, art,
>programmes, games, etc. These specialisations can learn from each other and
>may well share some common design techniques, but they should not be bound
>by each others specific methods and values.
>
>Design and research are activities that all of us engage in to a greater or
>lesser extent. They are largely complementary in that research relates to
>exploration and understanding, while design is about change and creativity.
>We need to call on both sets of skills to pursue most objectives.
>
>Those who aspire to develop the highest level of ability in research, and
>to gain recognition for it, will undertake a post graduate project and
>submit a research thesis for examination for the award of a research degree
>(usually Ph.D.). The award of the degree confers recognition across the
>world of a level of attainment in research.
>
>Those who aspire to develop the highest level of ability in design methods,
>and to gain recognition for it, should undertake a post graduate project
>and submit a design thesis for examination for the award of a design
>degree. Herein lies the problem. There is no design degree that confers
>worldwide recognition in the way that the Ph.D. does.  But the Ph.D. does
>not confer recognition of design ability and nor should it. While design
>may be a suitable topic for research, a student engaging in a design
>research project should have a primary objective to develop research
>ability and a good understanding of design. If the student wishes to
>develop design ability then he/she should undertake a design project.
>
>Rather than trying to figure out how to award Ph.D's for design activity or
>outcomes, we may be better engaged in promoting the distinctiveness and
>importance of design ability, and agreeing a higher degree award that is
>not specific to any design specialisation, and is awarded on the basis of
>criteria that measure a broad and transferable design ability, and not
>solely on the basis of a particular design outcome.
>
>Provided that standards for such a degree are agreed and applied
>universally then the degree will, in time, confer worldwide recognition of
>design ability.  The title?  Des.D. perhaps.
>
>An exceptional student (with exceptional, or joint, supervision) might
>produce both a research thesis and a design thesis from the work of one
>project and submit these for two degrees.
>
>Regards,
>
>Tony Fairlie-Clarke
>University of Glasgow
> 

************************************************************  
Dr Michael A R Biggs
Faculty Research Tutor
Faculty of Art and Design
University of Hertfordshire
College Lane,
Hatfield, Herts. AL10 9AB
United Kingdom

Telephone UK+ (0)1707 285341
Fax UK+ (0)1707 285350
E-mail [log in to unmask]
Internet http://www.herts.ac.uk/artdes/desres/mabiggs

The full postgraduate prospectus is available online at
http://www.herts.ac.uk/extrel/PGP2000/

For information about art and design research degrees go to
http://www.herts.ac.uk/artdes/simsim/res/aresatxt.htm
and follow "research activities"

For information about the "Research into Practice" conference go to
http://www.herts.ac.uk/artdes/simsim/conex/res2prac/
and follow "exhibitions and conferences"

************************************************************  


%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%