Graduate School
Art and Design research overview
Building upon the rich tradition of art and design education which has existed in Portsmouth since 1870, the School of Art, Design and Media provides an educational ethos that emphasises a distinctive relationship between practice and research in a cultural context.
Our research degrees programmes fully exploit the links with other disciplines within the University. We prioritise acceptance of research degrees candidates whose intended programme of research further supports the knowledge base of the clusters and their development.
For more information about how to apply please contact the Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries using the Contact us page.
If you have any questions about studying for a research degree at the University of Portsmouth, please complete our enquiry form.
Key Facts
RAE rating: In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), our Art/Media, Architecture and Design researchers were entered as part of the Unit of Assessment 63, Art and Design. Results from the RAE awarded a quality profile which confirmed that over 50% of research in this unit of assessment was judged to be of 'international standing'.
Academic staff: 38, please see link to staff list webpage.
Postgraduate research students: 25
Internal links: Our research degrees programmes fully exploit the links with other disciplines within the University such as the School of Architecture and the Centre for Art, Architecture and Design (CAAD).
External links: The School is particularly proud of its international links and many of our programmes offer opportunities for industrial placement and academic exchange.
Resources
The School’s postgraduate research students have full access to resources that support and enhance their learning opportunities. The School boasts a diversity of learning areas, from studios up to large lecture theatres, all suitable for creative practice and for academic study. For example, our students use the spaces to work in experimental ‘wet & dirty’ creative expression or in highly technological-environment projects.
We are especially proud of ‘Space’, the University’s gallery and exhibition area located in Eldon Building, which is going from strength to strength, attracting visiting artists and displaying a year-round programme showcasing the work of students, staff and alumni.
Research Centres
Centre for Art, Architecture and Design (CAAD)
The CAAD supports and advances research across the range of art, design, architectural and media practices and the application of critical, theoretical and historical perspectives to these practices and their interface with theory, in the recognition that art, design and media practices re-present social and cultural meanings and their potential transformation. Membership of the Centre is drawn primarily from the staff and postgraduate research students based in the School of Art, Design and Media and the School of Architecture.
Research Areas
Art and Media
Our researchers in Art and Media are working and supervising research on a broad range of subjects such as:
Aesthetics and Politics of Representation
The researchers in this cluster are interested in the relationships between aesthetics, politics, and forms of representation. Projects broadly addressing one or more of the following are represented in this group: the politics of memory; identities and justice in art; photography and film; transnational culture and identity politics; contesting cultural histories and representations.
Visual Connectivity (Art/Science)
Our researchers are investigating aspects of visual culture which have relevance to a broad agenda, which encompasses the interface between art and science. Investigations are taking place in the following areas: Process and iteration in design; Aesthetics of meta-pattern recognition; Integration of touch as a complementary sensory culture.
Informing Practice in Art, Design and Media
This research cluster gathers explorations in art and design practices and how these relate to knowledge, perception and questions of how we articulate experience, including in relation to technology and contemporary culture.
The Colours of the Sphere project is an interactive, contributory digital artwork which explores the meaning of colour at this era in our history. Developing in three dimensions, the project starts as a gallery-based interactive artwork allowing visitors to explore the world of colour stories left by previous contributors. In a second dimension, visitors make their contribution to the artwork by selecting a colour using a specially designed interface system to collect demographic details and also record a video message. In a final third dimension, the database of colour details (which is being built from the contributions) provides an analytical search engine of colour.
Design
If your interests lay in the various aspects of Design research, our researchers will be able to supervise you in a broad range of subjects such as:
Urban Design, Regeneration and related issues
Aspects of design research are concerned with the ongoing challenges to the context of design, architecture and urban development; interest is in furthering a critical understanding of design and architecture in relation to social and cultural questions of urban development regeneration and consideration of landscape.
Interior Design Practice
This cluster focuses upon both debates within and interior design practice, which connects to current research ideas related to interior design practice and innovation.