[The following content is provided by PolyU Design]

 

Professor Henry Ma, Programme Leader of the Doctor of Design (DDes) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Design, mentioned, ‘We are losing design knowledge daily. Exceptional insights disappear with the conclusion of projects, and designers seldom leave behind a record of their thought processes.’

 

The Dilemmas Faced by Professionals

 

Some experienced practitioners face this dilemma: practice cannot replace research, though without research to support it, practice may lose its persuasive power and ultimately be neglected. Educators must find a balance between industry standards and academic rigour. Hence, experienced professionals with decades of innovative practice, though eager to share their expertise through academic means, often lack the pathways to transform their experience into knowledge.

 

The imbalance lies between the immediacy of creation and the permanence of contribution. The fundamental question remains how does practice translate into research? And how does research maintain its flexibility within practice? For practitioners, the solution lies in reimagining the essence of their work, transforming it into an empowering knowledge system for their profession.

 

Universities and design councils worldwide are exploring ways to preserve tacit knowledge. This challenge is not unique to Hong Kong. The call for integrating practice and research reflects a global shift, professional insights are increasingly recognised as a significant form of academic contribution.

 

A Movement Redefining Creative Disciplines

 

Spanning the domains of art, design and performance, practice-based research (PBR) has emerged as an innovative approach bridging this gap. Unlike traditional research's emphasis on written texts, PBR recognises creative works, performances, exhibitions, prototypes and films as distinct carriers of knowledge. Through reflection, analysis and articulation, latent craftsmanship is transformed into knowledge assets that can be shared, conveyed and referenced. From the perspective of research, practice becomes exploration. Each creation is not merely an output, but an inquiry. Conversely, design research never departs from practice, rooted in prototyping, testing, and iteration. Within this cyclical dynamic, practice sustains research, and research enriches practice. Together, they form a dynamic ecosystem of knowledge creation, mutually reinforcing the essence of the design field.

 

The PBR methodology has resonated across interdisciplinary fields. Dance practitioners now publish reflective documentation of their creative processes; architects present iterative models as research outputs; technologists position prototypes as knowledge artefacts. Designers, too, are redefining their practice as knowledge creation. For industry, the implications are profound. As practice-based research gains recognition, organisations may adopt novel standards of excellence, prioritising not only end products but also the evidence-based processes behind them.

 

Transforming Personal Insights into Shared Knowledge and Contributions

 

At the School of Design, this philosophy is integrated through the DDes programme, Hong Kong's first professional doctoral degree specifically designed for design professionals. The DDes programme does not teach domain-specific skills but instead bridges practice and research. The programme intentionally keeps cohorts small, typically around 15, to foster in-depth face-to-face mentorship and cross-disciplinary dialogue.

 

As the first cohort approaches graduation, their achievements will be remarkable. From internationally renowned directors to creative entrepreneurs, participants are transforming their own practices into research that drives industry development. For instance, an award-winning animator is conducting an in-depth analysis of the decision-making processes that foster innovation within production workflows, with these insights already reshaping professional dialogue across the industry.

 

The shift from physical objects to insights reflects a profound transformation in the design field's self-perception. As Professor Ma observes, ‘Designers’ creativity consistently drives the discovery of unprecedented solutions. Their knowledge deserves recognition, sharing and preservation.’

 

Design is entering a new age, where thought and practice are inseparable, and practitioners are personally writing the next chapter of design knowledge. Through programmes such as the DDes, professionals gain the way to transform invisible intuition into visible contribution, ensuring that the brilliance of practice not only shapes industries, but also shapes understanding. For design to meet the challenges of artificial intelligence, sustainability and global transformation, its future depends not only on what it creates, but on how knowledge is shared. The principle that practice is research ensures design excellence is not a momentary sparkle, but an enduring presence. Future design will not only be created, but it will also be understood.