The Centre for History of Design (CDH) at the University of Brighton invites applications for AHRC TECHNE fully-funded doctoral studentships commencing October 2021.

The Centre for Design History applies a cross-disciplinary perspective to understand how design in all its forms has shaped things, spaces and actions across time. University of Brighton is at the forefront in determining the scope, territory and focus of the subject. Research students draw on wide-ranging academic expertise of staff in the history of decorative arts and design, fashion and dress history, visual and material culture, art history, museology, archive studies, heritage and social history. We encourage innovative and interdisciplinary study in global contexts, engaging with methods drawn from history, anthropology, cultural studies and arts practice to understand the relationship between local, national and transnational patterns of production, circulation, consumption and use.

CDH welcomes applications that address these areas, with particular interests in the following:

PhD students play a central role in the Centre and benefit from an exciting and supportive research culture with many opportunities for participation. For further details about the Centre’s thematic research areas, research interests and activities, staff and current research students, see our webpage: https://www.brighton.ac.uk/cdh/index.aspx and blog: https://blogs.brighton.ac.uk/centrefordesignhistory/

A distinctive element of CDH’s research culture is its close connection with the University of Brighton Design Archives, as both a research resource and a centre of archival expertise.  For more information about the Design Archives see https://blogs.brighton.ac.uk/brightondesignarchives/ 

Studentships are offered by the TECHNE doctoral training consortium via the University of Brighton’s Doctoral College. For information about the awards, eligibility and application process: https://www.brighton.ac.uk/research-and-enterprise/postgraduate-research-degrees/funding-opportunities-and-studentships/dtp-ahrc-techne-general.aspx

Applications supported by the Centre for Design History have had an excellent success rate in Techne. For advice on application and potential supervision contact the Centre Director, Dr Annebella Pollen: a.pollen@brighton.ac.uk or visit the University webpages where details of supervisors can be found: https://www.brighton.ac.uk/research-and-enterprise/postgraduate-research-degrees/programme-areas/history-of-art-and-design.aspx

The deadline for applications to the University of Brighton is 4 January 2021. All candidates wishing to be considered for TECHNE scholarships should submit to this deadline.