Nottingham Trent University is offering a fully-funded PhD opportunity titled Augmenting Design – Speculative Processes for AI–Human Collaboration in 21st Century Design. This project, supervised by Luke Siena, Prof Guy Bingham, Ian Campbell Cole, and Dr Jen Bell, will explore how generative AI (GenAI) is transforming the role of designers and the design process, with a particular emphasis on industrial and 3D product design consultancies. The research aims to produce both academic outputs (such as journal articles and conference papers) and practical resources, including an open-access guide for design agencies and educators.

The successful candidate will join a supportive and collaborative research community at Nottingham Trent University, benefiting from state-of-the-art facilities and guidance from both academic supervisors and external advisors from the design industry. The project is designed to have real-world impact, bridging the gap between academic research and professional design practice.

Key research areas: AI–Human Collaboration, Product Design, Industrial Design, 3D Product Design, Speculative Design, Generative AI, Design Process, Design Agencies, Design Education.

Funding: The PhD is fully funded, covering tuition fees and providing a stipend at the UK home student level.

Eligibility: Applicants should have a relevant undergraduate or master's degree in design, engineering, computer science, or a related field. Experience or interest in AI, generative AI, or design processes is desirable. Full entry requirements are available at the project link.

Application deadline: 13 February 2026.

How to apply: Applications must be submitted online via the Nottingham Trent University website. Please review the full project details and entry requirements before applying.