Digital jewellery, Co-creativity and Sense of self

Applications are invited for a fully funded EPSRC PhD studentship in Digital Craft/Interaction Design within Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, University of Dundee. The successful applicant will join a growing interdisciplinary research group with backgrounds in craft, design and computing, with a strong international research track record.

Project

Jewellery has an inherent connection to the body positioning it meaningfully as a tool for exploration of new ways to support the self. Jewellery often functions as a symbol of self, as a signifier of aspects of identity, as a conduit to transport us to other times, places and people, and as a receptacle for our feelings of that associated ‘other’. Digital technologies enable new ways to extend the social potential of jewellery. Digital jewellery therefore occupies a unique space offering a distinctly personal context for the exploration of how digital craft artefacts can support understandings of ourselves and connections to others.

This practice based PhD project will qualitatively investigate the potential of new forms of digital jewellery to support sense of self through co-creative participatory design methods.

Criteria and Eligibility

The student will work with participants in individual case studies and current conceptual understandings of sense of self in relation to jewellery will be built upon. Methods of creative participatory engagement will be developed bringing critical reflection on current methods in the fields of craft, design and human-computer interaction.

A series of digital jewellery objects will be developed to form conceptual and physical propositions of the potential ways in which such objects can support sense of self. The findings are anticipated to contribute to a stronger understanding of what defines digital jewellery, increased craft lead perspectives on forms of body-centric digital artefacts, better understandings of how jewellery artefacts can support self and new participatory design methods.

Applicants should have a first class degree or good 2:1 and/or masters (or equivalent experience) related to contemporary jewellery craft practice. A strong portfolio of work is necessary. The ability to develop functional digital prototypes is desired.

The award is open to eligible UK/EU nationals and will cover fees and a stipend of approximately £13,863 per annum for 42 months. Full information on eligibility criteria for this scholarship can be found on the RCUK web site: http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/RCUK-prod/assets/documents/documents/TermsConditionsTrainingGrants.pdf

Following interview the successful applicant will also need to apply and meet the University of Dundee’s entry requirements for PhD study.

Application and Further Details

The deadline for applications is 15th August 2014. The PhD is expected to commence from October 2014.

Applicants should submit a CV together with digital documentation of a selection of their work and a two-page statement describing their interest in pursuing a PhD and their experience as it relates to the topic in the first instance to:
Fiona Fyffe, Postgraduate Administrator, DJCAD. [Email Address Removed]

Informal enquiries can be directed to Dr Jayne Wallace [Email Address Removed]

Further details and information on the studentship can be found on the University of Dundee website: http://uod.ac.uk/djcad-studentships