“Value through Design” at the New Design University is a PhD programme for those who wish to bridge the gap between design and science. The starting point for researchers here is an exploration of the role of design as part of social, political, cultural, economic and environmental value creation. 

Programme structure

The New Design University offers a structured PhD programme with a modular curriculum, designed to provide PhD students with optimal support within a largely fixed timeframe. The aim of the PhD programme is to enable PhD students to develop their own dissertation as a research project at the intersection of design and science. To achieve this aim, doctoral students are supported and guided throughout their studies by a qualified team comprising the programme director, programme lecturers, supervisors and mentors.

A distinctive feature of the doctoral programme is that, in addition to research on design, the projects focus on research approaches through design and research practice within design. The programme fosters an intensive dialogue between design practice, scientific approaches and academic reflection. It aims to equip doctoral candidates with the skills to make the economic, ecological, social and cultural dimensions of design productive for their research and to develop new perspectives on issues of value creation through design. They are supported in creating sustainable value in diverse contexts and, through design, contributing to the understanding, analysis and ultimately the further development of the designed environment in an increasingly complex world. The aim of the artistic-scientific PhD is the development, deepening and publication of the candidate’s own dissertation project at the interface of design and science. 

Here, artistic and academic methods are brought together in a fruitful synergy, and the results of the research are presented in a concise and appropriate form. The dissertation consists of two parts – the written thesis and the artistic/design portfolio. The portfolio documents the artistic and design-related component of the dissertation, which may take various forms (for example, architectural designs and buildings, works of applied and fine art, artistic text-based works, exhibitions, performances, media installations, curatorial practice, and digital artworks). To achieve this goal, doctoral candidates are supported and supervised throughout their studies by a qualified team from the doctoral programme. The focus is on their individual research projects and the development of their academic and creative profiles, as well as on fostering the specific research and development interests of the doctoral candidates at the interface between design and science.

The changing times, advances in technology and media, and shifts in society—all of these factors inevitably influence the form and expression of design. Design, in turn, influences technological developments and society. Design is always a momentarily snapshot situated at the intersection of yesterday, today, and tomorrow. In this context, terms like “analog” and “digital” are often merely a pair of apparent contradictions that refer to different methods of information processing and transmission.

Traditional, analog methods and techniques of design are often integrated into today’s digital designs and forms of expression; analog and digital approaches can complement, enhance, and influence one another, and in practice, their dynamic combination leads to practical applicability. The tension between analog and digital design approaches is thus multifaceted, arising from conceptual thinking, practical craftsmanship, and experimental action. Design, an activity subject to constant change and influence, must always be understood as a process, as a transformation.

Through analysis and knowledge transfer, through broadening our understanding, but also through connecting and linking opposites—or, conversely, through separating existing elements—a tension arises between preservation and innovation. The transfer and translation of messages, concepts, and ideas should and can be applied as methods in both analog and digital contexts to address questions regarding space, objects, images, writing, culture, and language.

With the exception of the “Dissertation Project” module, all modules and courses in the first and second semesters are offered in blocks. From the third to the sixth semester, with the exception of two colloquia, the focus is on the dissertation project, which means that the schedule is arranged on an individual basis or in consultation with the advisors. In addition, there is the option to extend the program to four years at no extra cost; in this case, an individual study plan is agreed upon at the beginning.

For any questions regarding balancing your doctoral studies with professional work, as well as questions regarding balancing your doctoral studies with family responsibilities, we recommend an individual consultation. You are welcome to schedule a personal appointment with the program director via the info line.

From the start of your studies through to graduation, as a doctoral student, you will be supported and guided by a qualified team consisting of the program director, faculty members, advisors, and, if applicable, mentors.

Advisor

There are three application deadlines for the program
You can upload your application materials at any time. The final deadline for this is July 13, 2026. You will be notified personally of the date for your admission interview.