Call for Doctoral Consortium

TEXTILE INTERSECTIONS CONFERENCE 2023

Doctoral Consortium – Call for Participation

A DOCTORAL CONSORTIUM will be for the first time organized in the frame of Textile Intersections conference on the 20th of September 2023. The doctoral consortium will take place at Loughborough University London, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and aims to become a yearly programme of support for the PhD students working interdisciplinary in the field of textiles design research. The conference will run between 21-23 of September 2023. For more details about the conference, please check the conference’s website: https://www.textile-intersections.com.

TEXTILE INTERSECTIONS is a four-day conference which includes the doctoral consortium and an exhibition organized by Loughborough University, in collaboration with the Royal College of Art, London, University of Borås, Sweden and Elisava, Barcelona, Spain. 

The 3rd edition of the TEXTILE INTERSECTIONS conference explores and celebrates the nature of collaborations and interdisciplinary approaches to textile design research through six themes: Textiles and Architecture, Textiles and Sport, Biotextiles and Sustainable Textiles, Interactive and Performative Textiles, Advanced Textiles Materials and Processes, Critical Textiles. 

We invite submissions in view of participation in the doctoral consortium. 

/// KEY DATES:

*   Deadline for submission for the doctoral consortium – Sunday 21st of May 2023, 11:59 pm (GMT) Monday, 19th of June 2023, 11:59 pm (GMT). The expression of interest sent after this date will not be taken into consideration. 

*   Notification of acceptance – 9th of July 2023,15th of July 2023.

*   Date of the doctoral consortium – 20th of September 2023.

/// LOCATION:

Loughborough University London, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

/// FEE:

Participation in the doctoral consortium is free (no fees).

CALL FOR PARTICIPATION

Textile Intersections Doctoral Consortium provides an opportunity for doctoral students to discuss their research in an international forum under the guidance of a panel of convenors and experienced textiles / design researchers. 

The format of the doctoral consortium invites scholarly discussion and debate, especially on interdisciplinary approaches to textiles design and practice-based design research projects. Selected applicants will be asked to give short presentations or participatory sessions during the Consortium. These will be followed by extensive group discussions and peers’ feedback as well as a participatory sessions led by the co-chairs of the Doctoral Consortium. Focus of the discussions will be on design practice as means of knowledge generation, the relationship of research questions and design practice in doctoral research and impact of the research. 

Participation in the Doctoral Consortium is independent of the participation in the conference and the exhibition. If you would like to present in the Textile Intersections conference and exhibition, please observe the call for papers and the call for exhibition proposals on the link above.

We welcome applicants whose approaches to textiles design research embrace the interdisciplinary perspective and are currently undertaking doctoral study with a clear direction of research. We recognise that applicants will be at different stages of doctoral study as outlined below:

  • Early stage – You have decided on a topic and you have conducted initial explorations (such as an extensive literature review).
  • Intermediate stage – You have narrowed down your research topic, you have formulated a research question and developed a suitable methodology for your research project.
  • Advanced stage – You have conducted substantial research and analysis of your topic and you are about to prepare your final thesis document.

Prevalence will be given to research that fits in one of the six themes advanced by the conference. We are particularly interested in applications from PhD students from institutions and research groups that support interdisciplinary research in the field of textiles. 

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Please submit your expression of interest in taking part in the doctoral consortium by filling in this form link. The extended abstract template can be downloaded here.

Your submission will be reviewed by the doctoral consortium co-chairs. Doctoral Consortium Co-Chairs:

  • Prof. Dr. Katharina Bredies (IU Berlin, Germany);
  • Dr. Ramyah Gowrishankar (Aalto University, Helsinki, Finland);
  • Dr. Elaine Igoe (UAL London, UK);
  • Prof. Dr. Jussi Mikkonen (DTU Copenhagen, Denmark)
  • Prof. Dr. Neelam Raina (Middlesex University, London, UK).

For the expression of interest you will be asked to provide :

  • your name and affiliation (submissions are not anonymous);
  • a short biography (maximum 100 words);
  • An extended abstract of your PhD research with references along images of your work / research (maximum 500 words and 3-4 images);
  • A  brief overview of the research you wish to share during the doctoral consortium stating the content and the format of the presentation along 3-4 keywords (maximum 100 words);
  • a brief statement of your motivation and expectations to attend the consortium (maximum 100 words).

Extended abstract

Please prepare an extended abstract of your PhD that describes the progress of your doctoral research project regarding the scope of your topic, the research question, the methodology, the analysis of your ongoing work and expected contributions. Please include your references and images that illustrate your work (documentation of the processes, schemas, diagrams, etc.) into the extended abstract document. 

Overview of research

For the overview of the research we expect details related to the part of your research you would like to share with the other participants. Please mention if you would like to do a short presentation or if you would like to run a participatory session and the format of the participatory session. Please include 3-4 keywords that define your research. Please indicate whether you are at an early, intermediate or advanced stage in your doctoral study. 

Motivation and expectations

Please include a short presentation that articulates what you hope to gain from attending the Doctoral Consortium. Indicate the areas where you seek support from your peers, e.g.:

  • Narrowing down your research topic;
  • Formulating a research question;
  • Developing your methodology and arguing for it;
  • Interpreting your research and developing theoretical findings;
  • Communicating the findings for an interdisciplinary readership.

Short Biography

Apart from the expression of interest, you will also need to provide a short biography (100 words). Please include this in the extended abstract document.

The writeup should include the name and the affiliation – these are not anonymous submissions. 

On the Doctoral Consortium day, we are going to organise a Speed Career Desk. In case you have questions related to a possible academic career path, please mention that in the expression of interest as well.

The deadline for submitting expression of interest is Sunday 21st of May 2023, Monday, 19th of June 2023, 11:59 pm (GMT). The expression of interest sent after this date will not be taken into consideration. 

All questions should be directed to the following email address: textile.intersections@mailbox.lboro.ac.uk.