The PhD programme promotes research and project development activities in the fields of Design, Architectural Technology and Environmental Quality, intending to contribute to the innovation of cultural, social, environmental and productive systems.
The main research areas concern social inclusion and accessibility to products and services, digital communication and interaction, technological, energy and material culture, the built environment and cultural heritage enhancement, and sustainable production systems in industry and crafts. Advanced methodologies and a collaborative approach between different fields of knowledge support these research activities.
There are many collaborations with the strategic industrial and housing, cultural and social sectors present in the area, as well as connections with universities and research centres at national and international levels. From the point of view of transdisciplinary training, doctoral students are followed in the research path by two tutors from different disciplines, just as the teaching of the courses offered by the PhD is interdisciplinary.