What are the challenges and benefits of writing about design for English language domains? How can material practices be transposed to text? How can objects be visualised, verbalised and analysed in print? What might be gained in these acts of translation?

Through a series of virtual, hands-on training workshops, Design Writing: Words and Images, Objects and Histories will support early-career researchers in Brazil to develop the skills and confidence to write critically and creatively about design and its contexts for international academic journals and funding providers. Funded by the British Academy, and led by academics in the Centre for Design History, University of Brighton, UK, specialists in producing and supporting design writing in a range of forms, in conjunction with expert colleagues and participants from the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, University of São Paulo, Brazil, Design Writing will provide the training and tools for emerging scholars to develop quality submissions to leading English-language journals in the field. With presentations and peer-review from editors of the The Journal of Design History, Design Studies, Design Journal and The Journal of Modern Craft, the workshops of Design Writing will equip the next generation of Brazilian design scholars with the necessary networks, platforms and techniques to advance academic careers.

**This event has been organised specifically for PGR students and early career researchers of the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, University of São Paulo.**

The form of the workshop is two pairs of themed events and a closing day of work-in-progress presentations. Attendees can choose to participate in the Writing for Journals workshops or the Writing Funding Applications workshops, or both.

Writing for Journals

4th October & 8th November 2021

These sessions introduce writing for English language academic design journals through a series of presentations, activities and discussions. Following the first session, attendees submit an outline / draft journal article for appraisal. The second session provides attendees with feedback on their journal article outlines / drafts in small groups, led by pairs of international academics, alongside follow-up discussions and presentations.

Writing Funding Applications

7th October & 10th November 2021

These sessions introduce applying for international funding for design research through a series of presentations, activities and discussions. Following the first session, attendees submit an outline / draft funding bid for appraisal. The second session provides attendees with feedback on their bid outlines / drafts in small groups, led by pairs of international academics, alongside follow-up discussions and presentations.

Showcase

6th December 2021

This final session will be a day of research presentations by workshop participants using the Pecha Kucha format (20 slides, 20 seconds each). All participants and contributors are invited to attend this final showcase.

Format:

Each day will include 4 hours of online content, broken into 2 x 2 hour sessions, with a break in the middle. Due to differing time zones, the timings will be in the mornings for colleagues in Brazil and in the afternoon for UK-based colleagues.

Further info, including full programme details and details of how to register for the online platform will be annouced soon. Please check back regularly for updates.

This project is co-organised by the Centre for Design History, University of Brighton and the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, University of São Paulo. It is funded by the British Academy’s Writing Workshops 2021 Programme, supported under the UK Government’s Global Challenges Research Fund. https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/projects/design-writing-words-and-images-objects-and-histories/