Hello everybody,

I have numerous questions regarding a phd in design (questions, that have
probably been posted here a million times already). 
Since I am new to all this, I apologize in advance for any redundancies...
First of all I would like to tell you about my background.

I am not a design researcher. For three years I have been an
interdisciplinary designer with a background in interaction and industrial
design. 
Diverse interdisciplinary design projects between analog and digital have
animated me to dig intensly at the base of the discipline’s theoretical
roots. Working primarily as an interaction designer for several different
design agencies and manufacturers – especially in projects where disciplines
overlap – I have encountered a considerable tension between the disciplines
and a clear demand for a theoretical framework. This fact feeds my great
interest in interdisciplinary practice-oriented design research. 
Within my projects which feature ethnographic research, quantitative and
qualitative usability tests as well as interviews and field tests a
necessary intensive confrontation of the design team with research and basic
theoretical questions is often neglected either due to politcal or financial
issues. Time lacks for methodological holistic or experimental research
approaches thus resulting only in products but not in design knowledge to an
equal extent.

I am well aware that there are of course design companies as well as
manufacturers that do incorporate design research into their process. I only
describe what I have experienced in my three years of working for design
companies in Germany.
Although I have worked on projects where everybody was theoretically open
for design research, there has always been put a stop to in-depth research. 
Too often this decision lead to a solution which was unsatisfactory and
short-sighted.
In consequence I was faced with the question whether to continue working as
a design practitioner or as a design researcher.
When I started to talk to design researchers I immediately came across
"research through design" and "practice-based research". I know that some
researchers regard these methodologies as not scientific enough. It struck
me though that this approach might be the perfect solution for me to combine
the practical with the theoretical. Something that I have been missing in
the projects that I have worked on.
 
This leads me to my core questions regarding design research.

Do you think it is possible and reasonable for a design practitioner to go
into design research?

I have added some of my research interests below. Do you have suggestions on
where to start looking for a phd programme that might cover these areas?

Research interests:
(These are just rough drafts and starting points for me)

- Responsible Design – Developing an understanding of the application of
responsible design theory. How can the cross-cultural knowledge be accessed
and used for future product scenarios and services. Is a deeper knowledge
exchange between generations necessary or desirable. 

- Digital products in a connected world – how does globalization and
cultural mixes/remixes impact design decisions. Impact of cultural and
social changes on design. How desirable are possible futures in
consideration of human ecology, customs and values. Can transfer of
knowledge between generations be a factor for digital products in a
connected world. 

Are there any practitioners among you that went into research? How did you
start?

So, these are my questions. I hope I will get one or two interesting answers..

Thanks and best regards,

Florian Sametinger