Designing Design – Building the Conceptual Framework for a Design-led PhD

This paper discusses the role of the conceptual framework in design-led research. Identifying the conceptual framework as the consolidation of an interdisciplinary positioning merging historical, theoretical and technological, creates a platform from which a research project can contribute new theories and solutions. Taking its point of departure in a series of design-led PhDs undertaken at the Centre for Information Technology and Architecture (CITA) at the Royal Danish Academy - Architecture, Design, Conservation, the three discussed PhDs demonstrate how design is used as a driver for material-technological as well as conceptual-spatial contributions. One of the PhDs (Karen Honour’s) conceptual framework is further illuminated through the generation of a conceptual Wunderkammer which activates driving concepts within a tradition of knowledge acquisition, reflection and dissemination. This paper argues that the construction of a conceptual framework empowers the specifics of a design experiment to provide novel contributions to the field of architecture and design.