Doctoral student in Industrial Design with focus on strategic design

Description of the workplace

The position is located in the division of Industrial Design at the Department of Design Sciences at LTH, Lund University. Design Sciences is an interdisciplinary department that integrates design, technology, and people in its research and education.

As a doctoral student you will become part of an interdisciplinary research environment and work alongside doctoral students, senior researchers and teaching staff within Industrial Design and the wider Department of Design Sciences.

Being a doctoral student

As a doctoral student, you are both admitted as a student and employed at Lund University. You will be trained in a scientific approach. In short, you will be trained to think critically and analytically, to solve problems independently using the right methods, and to develop an awareness of research ethics. In addition, you will have the opportunity to work on projects, to develop your leadership and pedagogical skills. Throughout your studies, you will be guided by supervisors. Doctoral studies end with a thesis and a doctoral degree.

More about being a doctoral student at LTH on lth.se .

Subject and project description

Research in Industrial Design investigates how design shapes and responds to technological, environmental and societal change. It develops and critically examines design knowledge, methods and practices, with the aim of understanding how design can contribute to meaningful and responsible transformation.

Our research combines scientific and artistic approaches and is often conducted in collaboration with academic, industrial and public-sector partners as well as communities and third-sector organizations. The research environment encompasses sustainable design; emerging technologies and AI; design strategy, management and innovation; design practice and methods; and critical and participatory perspectives on design and design education.

This doctoral position has a particular focus on strategic design. The research will investigate how design can operate as a strategic capability in organizations and society and contribute to processes of innovation, transformation and value creation. Possible areas of inquiry include how design capabilities are developed and embedded in organizations; the role of design and design approaches in enabling organizational change; design in complex settings; systemic design; and user and citizen engagement in strategic design processes. The research may also investigate futures-oriented approaches, including designerly ways of navigating complex and uncertain societal, technological and environmental conditions.

Within this overall research area, the doctoral student will develop and refine the specific research direction and project in dialogue with the supervisors. The project is expected to combine theoretical inquiry with empirical research and may incorporate experimental, participatory or practice-based design approaches where relevant.

Work duties

You will primarily devote yourself to your doctoral programme. You will develop and conduct an independent doctoral research project. Your work will include formulating research questions, reviewing and developing relevant theoretical perspectives, designing and conducting empirical studies, analysing research material, communicating findings through academic publications and conferences, and completing a doctoral thesis.

You will also be expected to participate actively in the research environment of the Division of Industrial Design and the Department of Design Sciences and to engage with relevant academic and external research partners. Additional duties include participation in teaching and other departmental work (however, a maximum of 20% of working hours).

The position requires regular on-site presence at Lund University in Lund to carry out the work and participate fully in the research environment.

Qualifications

To be eligible for admission and employment as a doctoral student, you must fulfil the requirements below.

Admission requirements

A person meets the general admission requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes if the applicant:

• has been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or
• has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second cycle, or
• has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

A person meets the specific admission requirements for third cycle studies in Industrial Design if the applicant has:

• at least 30 higher education credits relevant to the subject area, of which at least 15 credits must be at an advanced level, or
• an in-depth study of at least 20 higher education credits at an advanced level relevant to the subject area, or
• a degree in fine arts, engineering, Master's or Magister's degree relevant to the subject area.

Additional requirements

In order to complete the doctoral programme in question, the following are also required:

• Knowledge and skills relevant to industrial design and to the proposed area of doctoral research.
• Ability to to independently formulate and address research problems.
• Analytical skills and the ability to engage critically with theoretical perspectives and empirical material.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.

Other qualifications (advantages)

For the doctoral programme in question, the following are considered as other qualifications:

• Experience of conducting empirical, practice-based or participatory research.
• Experience of interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary work.
• Experience of managing complex projects involving multiple actors or perspectives.
• Experience of using design methods and practices as part of research or inquiry.
• Experience of collaboration with academic, industrial, public-sector or other societal actors.
• Experience of communicating research or complex design work to different audiences.

Consideration will also be given to the applicant's ability to take initiative, work independently, collaborate with others, and develop and complete a long-term research project.

We offer

Lund University is a public authority which means that employees get particular benefits, generous annual leave and an advantageous occupational pension scheme.

More about working at Lund University on lu.se.

About the employment

The employment is a fixed-term employment at full time, starting on 2027-01-01 or soon after. Third cycle studies at LTH consist of full-time studies for 4 years. In the case of teaching and other departmental duties, the employment is extended accordingly. Doctoral studentships are regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), chapter 5, 1-7 §§.

More about terms of employment for doctoral students on Lund University’s Staffpages .

Other

This doctoral position is funded by the Ingvar Kamprad Design Foundation (IKDF).

How to apply

Applications must be written in English and include

• CV
• A cover letter describing your reasons for wishing to undertake a PhD in Industrial Design, your interest in this position, and how your academic, professional and/or personal experiences have shaped your research interests and prepared you for doctoral studies.
• Copies of degree certificates and transcripts confirming that you meet the general and specific admission requirements;
• A research statement (maximum 1,500 words) describing the research questions, problems or phenomena within Strategic Design that you are interested in exploring, why you consider them important, and how you might approach investigating them. The statement is intended to demonstrate your research interests and ability to formulate a potential direction for doctoral research; it is not expected to constitute a fully developed research proposal.
• A portfolio or selection of work samples demonstrating relevant design, research, or professional work. These may include design projects, research projects, publications or other written work, collaborative or community-based projects, or other work relevant to the position. For collaborative work, clearly describe your own role and contribution.
• Contact information for three references and
• Any other documents you wish to be considered.

We welcome your application.