Conference Agenda

The DESIGN 2026 PhD Forum is designed to create a dynamic and supportive environment for early-stage researchers, fostering both academic development and professional growth. It offers a unique platform for PhD candidates to engage in meaningful discussions, share innovative research ideas, and contribute to a vibrant exchange of perspectives within the engineering design community. Participants will benefit from direct interaction with experienced researchers, receiving personalised feedback on their research topics, methodologies, and challenges—insights that are often difficult to obtain elsewhere. At the same time, the forum encourages networking and collaboration, enabling participants to build lasting connections with peers and established experts that can significantly enrich their academic journey.

The forum is structured around small discussion groups, each consisting of approximately five PhD students and one to two experts, ensuring focused and in-depth dialogue. As part of the programme, each participant will deliver a concise five-minute pitch presenting their research. This pitch should clearly communicate the relevance and impact of the work, its theoretical grounding, the research gap it addresses, the chosen methodology, and any anticipated challenges. Participants are encouraged to support their presentation with visual materials such as slides, figures, or flowcharts to effectively convey their ideas.