The ADAPT-r ITN – Architecture, Design And Art Practice Training-research

The ADAPT-r ITN – Architecture, Design and Art Practice Training-research – aims to significantly increase European research capacity through a unique and ground-breaking research model. At its core is the development of a robust and sustainable initial training network in an emergent Supra-Disciplinary field of research across a range of design and arts disciplines – creative practice research. ADAPT-r ITN will train new researchers, increase supervisory capacity, create partnerships with SMEs in research projects, provide substantial opportunity for real-world testing of the research and real-world training, and introduce creative practice research methodologies to a new generation of practitioners.

This unique model will also enable ADAPT-r ITN to substantially leverage the number of doctoral candidates supported within the network, maximising higher degree training opportunities. The research that is produced through the ADAPT-r ITN will contribute to a wider research effort to increase knowledge, understanding and quality of research in practice based creative disciplines and its methods. The Marie Curie ITN funding will enable an existing bi-lateral research training relationship to be expanded to include multiple partners from across Europe to create a greatly enhanced international research training network with a long-term future.

The ADAPT-r ITN will address identified deficits in EU research training for creative disciplines. Through training creative practice researchers in the explication and dissemination of tacit knowledge and latent cognitive resources, the ADAPT-r ITN will make a substantive contribution to meeting EU 2020 priorities by building a new generation of creative practice researchers and research-led practitioners able to meet the complex and often competing demands of contemporary Europe. The ADAPT-r ITN will result in 40 Fellowships, 8 training conferences, a major research conference, a major exhibition, three key books, and a website providing public access to research and events.

Past Events

ADAPT-r Exhibition – 26 November until 18 December 2016

What do architects, artists, and designers actually do? What inspires them? How do they make the leaps of imagination they need to break new ground? Where do they find their ideas? How do they develop, test and share them with each other? How do they know when something’s going right?

The ADAPT-r exhibition offered a rich terrain of work to explore. It was divided into distinct areas charting the different stages of discovery within the creative process. Individual exhibits in the Studio show work in progress and completion by 35 practitioners, whereas Rooms reveals cross views of working together. The Library included books and discoveries, while the Garden will be the site of a daily programme of events, including discussions, performances and screenings.

The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme FP7/2007-2013.

Practice Research Symposia are crucial to the organisation of ADAPT-r. At the seminars early stage researchers present their research in architecture/design/arts to the public and to an international panel. Fellows take this opportunity to communicate their research to a public of peers and receive valuable feedback making the seminars an integrated part of the research development. Transition Training and Research Methods Training is organised in relation to the seminars along with Supervisor Training and PhD examinations. ADAPT-r executive board meetings and planning also takes place in relation to the seminars.

The seminars are held twice a year: in Ghent in late April/early May and in Barcelona in late November. Note that the November 2016 PRS is exceptionally held in London, UK.