The Centre for Design History (CDH) at the University of Brighton invites applications for a funded International Visiting Research Fellow (VRF) to spend time at the Centre in the 2025/26 academic year to pursue their research within CDH’s themes and to form collaborations with CDH members.

Applications close at 5pm GMT on Friday 10 October 2025

The Centre for Design History

CDH examines the production and consumption of visual and material culture – images and things – in their widest social and cultural contexts, across diverse histories and geographies. We apply a cross-disciplinary perspective to understand how design in all its forms has shaped things, spaces and actions across time. Our members contribute to an ‘expanded field’ of design history that embraces the conjunction of professional and non-professional practices; digital and analogue artefacts; the de-centring of design practice away from the singular object to complex ecologies, objects and systems, and the role of design and material culture in everyday life. We are committed to taking global perspectives on how colonial and post-colonial narratives of design have been constructed and to redressing what voices and practices these exclude.

CDH research is currently grouped around six thematic strands:

  • Architectural and spatial histories
  • Design Activism
  • Fashion, dress and textile histories
  • Museums, archives and exhibitions
  • Sustainability in design
  • Transnationalism

Cutting across these themes, we are committed to researching approaches and practices that decentre cultural privilege, engage with the University’s Global Challenges agenda and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. We particularly welcome applications that address these areas.

CDH comprises over 50 members including artists and designers, archivists and curators, activists and academics from PhDs to Professors. We have a vibrant research community and a rich programme of seminars, workshops and conferences. Related research resources include the internationally renowned Design Archives. For detail of recent CDH activities, see our lively blog.

The Opportunity

The aims of the International Visiting Research Fellow scheme are to:

* provide an external researcher with an opportunity to immerse themselves in CDH’s research culture

* offer an opportunity for an external researcher to work collaboratively with CDH staff

* foster international networks within design history research

* develop a stimulating intellectual environment for advancing collaborative projects and publications

* support a Visiting Research Fellow to deliver a seminar on their research during their visit, giving researchers a platform to present their current and emerging work

This is an opportunity for an established researcher in receipt of a doctorate or equivalent professional experience (If you have been awarded a PhD within the past 24 months, see the CDH Post-doc VRF call)

The Funding

The Centre for Design History provides financial support to cover travel, accommodation, and research-related expenses. The funding is subject to final approval from the University of Brighton and includes up to £1000 for general travel, accommodation, and research costs

Expenses must conform to the University of Brighton’s financial regulations and quotes should be sought from the University’s partner travel agents in the first instance (further info will be provided later in the application process).

No salary or stipend is included in the fellowship, so please ensure you have enough funds to cover the remaining expenses associated with your visit. The CDH also covers an administrative fee of £200 as part of the funding, in addition to the fund for expenses. CDH Visiting Research Fellowships run for a period of one calendar year. Fellows are not expected to reside in Brighton for the duration of their fellowship, but will be required to visit Brighton to benefit from and contribute to our research community (stays are usually expected to last between one week and two months).

 

Visiting Research Fellows will have access to: 

* CDH research training events and activities

* a sponsor (a member of CDH academic staff) plus CDH administrative support

* the University of Brighton Design Archives Reading Room if required (appointments must be booked in advance of your stay to ensure availability)

* a University of Brighton campus card, which enables access to University facilities and resources, such as the library

* Information Services (including libraries) and to computer, printing and copying facilities

* a University of Brighton email address

 

In addition to conducting their research, Visiting Research Fellows will be expected to:

* contribute to the CDH’s vibrant research community

* contribute a post to the CDH’s blog

* give a seminar on their research open to all staff and students

For visa purposes, where needed, CDH can provide a letter with the formal start / end dates plus an outline of the specifics of the role (please specify in your proposal if you will require a visa). This letter is created by the University’s legal team, not by CDH, so please allow sufficient time for processing.

How to apply

For the internal selection process, potential applicants are invited to submit a CV and detailed proposal (c. 500 words) that addresses the following criteria:

  • Their proposed contribution to the research culture of the Centre for Design History.
  • The alignment between their research project and research interests of the Centre for Design History.
  • The collaborative activities and outcomes expected during the fellowship including quality and feasibility.

Proposals should include:

  • A comprehensive outline of the research to be conducted (c.500 words).
  • Details of the collaborative activities and outcomes to be delivered during the fellowship.
  • A brief budget indicating how the expenses will be utilised (please note that all Fellowship-related costs need to be settled by 30 June 2026, and must meet the University expenses policy, available on request).
  • The duration and format of the planned fellowship, including your plans to be in Brighton. Please indicate your preferred VRF start date, taking into account of the notification date (below) and any visa processes.
  • Details of any visa requirements
  • A c.200-word statement of support from a sponsor at the CDH, demonstrating their investment in the collaboration outlined in the proposal.

All offers of Visiting Research Fellowships are subject to the confirmation of research budgets (expected in October 2025) and must be approved by the University’s central Research and Knowledge Exchange (R&KE) team following the Centre for Design History’s selection process.

Candidates who are selected internally by CDH in October will then need to work in collaboration with their CDH sponsor to complete an application form and IT registration form for central approval by the R&KE team.

 

Please note: Proposals for the general International VRF competition are welcome (but not required) to make use of University of Brighton Design Archives collections. If this is the case, applicants are asked to contact Sue Breakell, Archive Director, in advance of submission to discuss their proposal and ensure relevant materials are available (s.m.breakell@brighton.ac.uk).

 

Informal enquiries can be directed to the CDH Director, Dr Claire Wintle c.wintle@brighton.ac.uk. Applicants are advised to contact a sponsor amongst the CDH membership to discuss their application and secure their statement of support in good time.

Applications are due by 5pm GMT on Friday 10 October 2025 to CentreforDesignHistory@brighton.ac.uk Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by Friday 24 October 2025.