PARSONS PRESENTS EVOLUTION: ART AND DESIGN RESEARCH AND THE PHDConference Explores the Changing Landscape of Doctoral Education in Art & Design |
NEW YORK, October 14, 2010—For artists and designers whose disciplines are rooted in creative practice, how is research defined and in what ways might it shape a doctoral degree? Parsons The New School for Design and Sydney College of the Arts (SCA), the University of Sydney, will explore this question through Evolution: Art and Design Research and the PhD, a two-day conference on October 22-23, which brings together an international roster of artists, designers, and scholars to envision new models for academic research in art and design. Evolution is intended to open a dialogue about the role of a practice-based PhD in art and design, an idea that is slowly gaining traction in the United States, as Parsons considers developing one. “Evolution is a collaboration between two institutions committed to investigating the intersections of studio practice, research, and education,” said Simone Douglas, director of the MFA in Fine Arts at Parsons. Through lectures, panel discussions, faculty presentations, and breakout sessions, Evolution will explore the wide range of practices utilized by visionary artists and designers in the context of advanced research practice and PhD programs. Throughout the conference, attendees will address the sociocultural, political, and technological issues in the current doctoral landscape. “What does the current ceiling of the MFA qualification indicate to academics working in other disciplines? What does it indicate about how we as artists and designers value our practice? Is the outcome of creative work or research by artists and designers not the same value as intellectual inquiry in other fields?” said Brad Buckley, associate dean (research) at SCA. Evolution will feature keynote speeches by Bill Gaver, head of the design PhD program at Goldsmiths, University of London, who will discuss his academic leadership and work exploring the design of interactive technologies for everyday life; and Sara Diamond, president of Ontario College of Art and Design, whose address will consider the expanded field of research that arises from practitioner-researchers collaborating with other disciplines. Meredith Davis, head of the interdisciplinary PhD program at North Carolina State University and a leading advocate for American design research, will make a call for why we need more design PhD programs in the United States. Evolution will also feature PhD projects of various styles and scales that represent doctoral study from at least seven different countries. The theses represent diverse disciplines including urbanism, interaction design, fashion studies, and sustainability, and have generated new technologies, academic publications, and installations. “Designers around the world are already effectively blurring the boundaries between research and practice,” said Lisa Grocott, associate dean of Academic Initiatives at Parsons. “Evolution will draw on their experiences to envision a potential future for art and design higher education.” The conference is made possible, in part, by a generous grant from the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney. For more information about the event, please visit www.newschool.edu/parsons/evolutionphd. Programming updates and ticket reservations are available at evolutionphd.eventbrite.com. Please note that seating is limited. For those outside of New York, Evolution may be attended remotely by visiting streamingculture.parsons.edu. |
| Parsons The New School for Design has been a pioneer in art and design education for more than a century. Based in New York but active around the world, the school offers undergraduate and graduate programs in the full spectrum of design disciplines. Critical thinking and collaboration are at the heart of a Parsons education. A student-centered curriculum allows for both focused and interdisciplinary learning, with unparalleled internship opportunities and industry partnerships laying the groundwork for entrepreneurship and professional success. An integral part of The New School, Parsons builds on the university's legacy of progressive ideals, scholarship, and pedagogy. Parsons graduates are leaders in their respective fields, with a shared commitment to creatively and critically addressing the complexities of life in the 21st century. For more information, please visit www.newschool.edu/parsons.
Sydney College of the Arts (SCA), the Visual Arts Faculty of the University of Sydney, has been leading the research and practice of contemporary art in Australia since 1976. SCA provides innovative programs that prepare students with the conceptual and technical skills to establish a career as a contemporary visual artist. As a faculty of the University of Sydney, SCA continues the tradition of academic excellence associated with Australia's most established educational institution. SCA offers an exciting range of programs at undergraduate, master's and doctoral levels that reflect its mission to provide a vibrant and conceptually coherent coverage of subjects relevant to international contemporary arts. SCA has a prestigious history of educating many of Australia's most successful contemporary visual artists, helping them to realise their aspirations and develop their communication, intellectual and cultural skills. Staff members are of the highest calibre and enjoy national and international research reputations as practitioners and writers. As part of one of the world's foremost research-intensive universities, staff at SCA are able to apply the benefits of their own practices directly into learning and teaching at all levels, from first year through to PhD. For more information, please visit www.sydney.edu.au/sca. |
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