PhD in Universal Design

Designskolen Kolding; Kolding; On-site; DKK 350,000 - 450,000; Full time

Job summary

Kolding School of Design invites applications for a PhD position focusing on Universal Design. The role includes conducting research, teaching, and developing a comprehensive research plan to enhance the understanding of inclusive design.

Applicants should possess a Master's degree and demonstrate research capabilities in Universal Design. This permanent, full-time position offers an opportunity to contribute to impactful design practices aimed at inclusivity.

Qualifications

• Demonstrate an understanding of the field of Universal Design.
• A clearly expressed research question.
• Ability to prepare written output like conference papers.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research on Universal Design.
• Teach design-related courses integrating research experiments.
• Develop a preliminary research plan.

Skills

Understanding of Universal Design

Research methodology

Fluent English communication skills

Education

Master's degree in design

Job description

Introduction

The Kolding School of Design hereby invites proposals for PhD projects focusing on Universal Design (UD). The project is funded with the support of the Bevica Foundation. UD (also known as Design for All and Inclusive Design) is design for the physical, cognitive and emotional needs of the broadest range of people. It is to produce goods and services that assist full social inclusion. UD combines a blend of consumer‑oriented responsibility, concepts of empathy and equity and human rights‑based thinking. As a design approach, it demands intensified user‑centered design and knowledge of physical and socio‑structural barriers. In UD heightened regard is paid to variability in capability, neurodiversity and age‑related conditions. When design tools are actively selected this results in products and services which work for people with capability loss but which also are functionally and emotionally acceptable to the mainstream.

Research Themes

• Design for digital accessibility with a focus on UX research. This should focus primarily on the UX aspect of digital design rather than the UI (screen interfaces). Behind the interfaces are structural barriers to inclusion. How can UD principles be advanced before requirements are submitted to developers to deliver “buttons, menus and sliders”?
• UD and Service Design (SD). This deals with developing SD methods to promote inclusive user‑need insights and to enhance incorporation of both edge‑case and mainstream needs in the design process. While this theme may touch on digital interfaces, it is expected to relate substantially to in‑the‑world user‑experiences and the tangible structures supporting them.
• UD allied to child and youth centered design. For this theme, the focus is on children and young people. These target groups typically require different approaches and this theme aims to merge a more child‑ and youth‑centered design approach with UD. Topics could include different approaches to ensuring children or young people’s voices in aspects of their lives, where adults tend to make the decisions; within learning, quality of life, social relations, agency etc.
• UD in relation to fashion with a focus on sports clothing. Sports clothing represents a possible avenue of inquiry where the needs and aspirations of people of all capability‑levels can be met. For example, a project could focus on inclusivity in the way one explores shape inclusion, to develop clothing designed to interact dynamically with a broader range of bodies and capabilities.
• UD, policy and public administration. A growing body of literature deals with design for administration. Policy and administration are areas where there can be difficulty integrating the fine‑granular, local and particular demands of UD solutions and support for disability with policy‑making and administrative structures and processes. Connections between citizens and the state are different from the connections between “users and producers” of goods and services. How can UD design approaches be expanded to address building inclusivity into systems of administration to support equitable outcomes?
• Proposals dealing with other themes will also be considered.

Requirements

• To demonstrate an understanding of the field of UD generally.
• To indicate a specific sub‑area of interest within UD which addresses people with some kind of physical disabilities.
• To have a plausible and clearly expressed research question (yes/no questions and long, multi‑clausal abstract questions are undesirable). You are welcome to add a few sub‑research questions as well.
• To have a clear description of the UD research process by which the question(s) might be answered (i.e. what are you going to do to answer the question(s)?).
• To include a preliminary research plan.
• To demonstrate ability to prepare written output. This could be conference papers, articles or other publications. Applicants are encouraged to clearly outline a practice‑based or purely publication‑based approach with focus on UD (or the above related areas) based on specific experiments.

Applicants are encouraged to clearly outline a practice‑based or purely publication‑based approach with focus on UD (or the above related areas) based on specific experiments. This can be in all design disciplines. Applications will be assessed, among other factors, according to the depth and interest of the topic, including how it fits with Kolding School of Design’s and Lab for Social Design’s overall strategy.

We are also very interested to know how the proposal might fit into the disciplines of industrial design, fashion design, textile design, communication design or accessory design.

Teaching is part of the PhD position’s activities and there is an opportunity to integrate research experiments and background research into course teaching and supervision. This is consistent with Kolding School of Design’s interest in research‑based teaching so teaching and research have a two‑way relation.

The application (PhD project description) must have the following sections:

• 1. Introduction to the PhD project
• 2. Literature review of UD or the related fields to show state of the art and familiarity with the field; indication of familiarity with the theory of research in design and research in general
• 3. The research question clearly indicated including how it contributes to the field of UD
• 4. Proposed design research methodology
• 5. An account of the nature of the empirical data to be generated and whom to collaborate with
• 6. Bibliography/references

Terms of Employment

The position is a permanent, full‑time position, running for three years. Employment and salary take place in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance, “Declaration on the position structure for artistic and scientific staff at the Royal Danish Academy – Architecture, Design, Conservation, Aarhus School of Architecture and Kolding School of Design”.

Application Process

• PhD research project description of 4-6 pages. The project description should contain a letter of motivation including thoughts on the kind of research to be pursued, overview of existing knowledge and theoretical base leading to a research question(s) clearly expressed, research methodology, an account of the empirical material/data which the applicant expects to generate, and finally a preliminary research plan.
• CV of maximum 1 page. It is also possible to send a 5-page portfolio.
• Diploma or alternatively a complete transcript of records (for BA and MA degrees). The applicant must have, as a minimum, a two‑year MA degree, preferably from a design program, prior to the date of appointment.
• Fluent, oral and written English communication skills. The application and materials must be in English or Danish and both Danish and international applications are welcome.
• Kolding School of Design’s policy states that new employees unfamiliar with the Danish language is expected to develop skills to communicate in Danish.
• Apply through Kolding School of Design’s recruitment system which can be accessed under job vacancies on the school’s website. Please note that we do not process applications received per mail.
• After the application deadline, a shortlist of the most promising applications will be made, which will then be assessed. When the committee has completed its review procedure, each shortlisted applicant will receive an assessment of their application.
• Application deadline is 18 Oct 2026. The assessment will happen shortly thereafter. The position is to be filled 1 February 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter.

About

• 5.1 Kolding School of Design. Kolding School of Design is an independent institution under the auspices of the Ministry of Higher Education and Science. We offer high‑quality BA, MA and PhD Degree programs with teaching based on innovative practice and research in close collaboration with the business community. We also offer continuing education courses and consultancy services. Our BA program comprises five study programs: Communication Design, Industrial Design, Fashion Design, Textile Design, and Accessory Design, including interdisciplinary courses within methods, aesthetics, design history, the history of science as well as form studies.
• The MA program is an international, cross‑disciplinary program that supports and challenges the above‑mentioned design fields and allows students to specialize in one of three programmes: Design for People, Design for Play and Design for Planet.
• Kolding School of Design has approximately 120 full‑time employees. The school offers a dynamic work environment with dedicated colleagues from many different backgrounds. The atmosphere enriches daily work and brings life to the old factory building, which is constantly changing to suit the school’s needs. Kolding School of Design has a strong focus on creating an education that is relevant and aimed towards future employability. Another way of strengthening the education is by having research aimed towards the programmes, as well as towards the strategic areas. The research thus supports and develops the teaching while ensuring that there is cross‑pollination between research and teaching.
• We offer a dynamic, internationally oriented education and research environment with close collaborations with external actors and research environments. As a leading design university, Kolding School of Design is in continuous development to be at the forefront of the expectations for future designers, including increased focus on digital competencies.

5.2 Lab for Social Design

Kolding School of Design has worked with social design, social innovation and social inclusion in research, education and development projects for more than 20 years. We believe that a social strategy must be part of the efforts in solving challenges in relation to for example welfare, healthcare and democracy.

The PhD student will be situated in the Lab for Social Design at Kolding School of Design which serves as a catalyst for cultural and social change. The lab contributes to creating an open school where design students and lab members design and facilitate change processes in close collaborate with various external actors. The overall aim is to design better, more sustainable and inclusive futures by engaging with complex social and societal matters of concern through participatory design and co‑design practices.

5.3 Bevica Fonden

The PhD is supported by the Bevica Foundation as part of a 5‑year project to develop UD education and research at Kolding School of Design. The Bevica Foundation’s strategic work is based upon Denmark’s ratification of Convention of the Rights for Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2009 and thus on the Convention’s focus on UD as a values‑based approach to creating a more equal society for all. The successful applicant will be able to make use of Bevica’s extensive and well‑established network in disability support and advocacy. You will also be part of the Bevica Foundation’s National Network for PhD‑students and Post Docs working in the field of UD in Denmark.

Contact Details, more information

For further information, please contact Quality Coordinator, Secretary of Research and Development Christina Stind Rosendahl, phone [phone] or [e-mail] or Associate Professor, Richard Herriott at [e-mail].