PhD Chronicles: A Journey of Triumph over Confirmation
Embarking on a PhD journey is an incredibly rewarding opportunity that expands one’s knowledge base and provides a unique learning experience. Although I am just over a year into my own PhD journey, I can confirm that it has been a rewarding experience, consistently challenging my perspectives, personal epistemology, and mental resilience. Fortunately, you are never alone on your PhD journey, you have the support of your supervisory team every step of the way. Your team is comprised of experts in their fields who offer guidance and expertise, and in my case, help filter out overly ambitious ideas from a developing researcher’s mind. PhD students at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) are also required to complete three milestones throughout their research project: Stage Two (three months), Confirmation of Candidature (12 months), and Final Seminar (36 months). These milestones help break down the PhD journey into achievable goals while ensuring quality, rigor, and reliability in research.
A few months ago, I experienced the privilege and anxiety of completing my Confirmation of Candidature before a panel of experts from the School of Design and the School of Architecture & Built Environment. The process requires students to submit a report that includes a substantial literature review and evidence of research capacity, which is then formally presented to the panel and guests. This can be especially challenging for early-career researchers, as it involves defending the significance and methodology of one’s work to a critical audience. Despite the daunting nature of this process, it provided an invaluable opportunity to receive detailed feedback and guidance on the trajectory of my research project while sharing my efforts with my peers. My research focuses on investigating the role of unconscious cognitive processes in industrial designers working within non-traditional contexts, such as multi-national corporations, with BMW as a case study. While the skill set and design thinking proficiency of industrial designers are increasingly recognised as strategic assets for organisations and governments seeking innovation and a competitive edge, the field and role of industrial designers remains misunderstood and undervalued. My goal is to develop a framework that supports industrial designers and helps multinational corporations and non-traditional design organisations better utilise their abilities. Using qualitative research methods, including autoethnographic and ethnographic methodologies, I aim to deepen our understanding of industrial designers’ processes and facilitate their integration into non-traditional design contexts. Thankfully, I successfully presented my work and demonstrated the viability of my study during my confirmation, setting a solid foundation for the next two years of my doctoral journey. However, my pre-confirmation practices might have raised a few eyebrows. Imagine me pacing the dimly lit Beta Lab at QUT whilst muttering to myself, trembling from an impressive amount of caffeine, and simultaneously devouring every sugary treat within reach. It was a spectacle that could be described as fascinating, if not mildly eccentric. But hey, whatever it takes to get the job done right!
As I move forward on this journey, I’m filled with excitement and determination. There’s no doubt that there will be challenges ahead, but I know that each step will bring new opportunities for growth and discovery. I look forward to sharing more updates on my progress and insights as I continue my research and explore the fascinating world of design
Alexandra Singleton
Research Associate