Design Engineering PhD Scholarship 16

Designing for Future Heritage: Reframing Sustainability through Cultural and Temporal Value

Abstract
This PhD project explores how design practice can integrate principles of future heritage—viewing today’s artefacts, systems, and services as tomorrow’s cultural legacy. It investigates how rethinking value, material use, and temporality can move design beyond sustainability’s short-term horizons toward long-term cultural and planetary significance. Through design-led research, critical analysis, and interdisciplinary collaboration, the candidate will develop and test frameworks for designing with heritage foresight. The research aims to establish future heritage as a new paradigm for responsible innovation, influencing sustainable design theory, education, and practice.

How to Apply 
Please contact Dr Leila Sheldrick if you are interested in applying for this project. 

For more information on submitting a PhD application, please consult our application pages here. When you submit your application, please cite this project title in the 'how you are planning to fund your PhD' section.   

The deadline for submitting your application is 09 January 2026.