This award has been created to recognise and support ground-breaking research and projects that actively contribute to the decolonisation of design history. We define decolonisation as the process of deconstructing colonial ideologies in the study of design history, amplifying marginalised voices, and revaluating historical narratives from a critical perspective. We especially encourage applications from researchers and students from the Global Majority, those who are first-generation university entrants, those with disabilities and other marginalised communities and those whose work foregrounds, diverse perspectives and under-represented narratives within design history.. By fostering engagement with these communities, we aspire to cultivate a more inclusive and diverse dialogue within our discipline. We particularly encourage research that considers the integral role of design in histories of colonisation and empire which could offer alternative histories of design.
A total of £3000 is awarded annually for the Decolonising Design History Grant. This sum is divided amongst several applications deemed of high merit, at the discretion of a judging panel drawn from the DHS Executive Committee who undertake a blind peer review of anonymous applications. Individual applications should not exceed £1000.
Inter-disciplinary projects are welcomed providing they demonstrate a genuine focus upon design history. Applications involving collaborations across multiple institutions, localities and/or constituencies are especially encouraged.
Overview
By Global Majority We Mean:
People of Asian Descent: This includes East Asians, Southeast Asians, South Asians, and Central Asians, who together represent the largest portion of the global population.
People of African Descent: Both those living on the African continent and those in the African diaspora around the world.
Indigenous Peoples: Indigenous communities across all continents, including Native Americans in the Americas, Aboriginal Australians, Indigenous peoples of Africa, and the many diverse indigenous groups throughout Asia and the Pacific Islands.
People of Latin American Descent: Including those from Central and South America and the Caribbean.
Unsuitable costs for this grant include higher than standard class travel and transcription costs for interviews conducted.
Eligibility
- open to DHS members only
- open to students and Early Career Research (ECRs). We define ECRs as individuals who have successfully completed their PhD within the last five years.
- one application per person is considered in each calendar year.
Criteria
Applications are anonymised and judged by at least two members of the Executive Board on the following criteria:
- original and significant contribution of the outlined activity to the discipline of design history and its dissemination.
- the impact the event will have in facilitating collaboration across a global design history community and furtherance of research in our field
- articulated and appropriate objectives, strategies and implementation
- clear demonstration of how the project will be realisable in terms of technology and archival preservation
- suitability of the applicant(s) to achieve the proposed project
- feasibility of timeline, outcomes and efficacy of dissemination by virtual means
- value for money and justification of costs.
Please note: priority will be given to applications which provide sufficient, detailed information of all of the above.
Any grant made by the DHS will only be given towards the activity as described in the application. Any change in the project must be communicated immediately to the DHS and approved.
Dissemination:
- recipients of this grant are asked to provide a report of 500-800 words of their project (with a copy-right free image and caption) to be published on the DHS website, within 6 months of notification of receipt of the award
- alternative means of dissemination will also be considered. To discuss this matter further contact the DHS Senior Administrator, Jenna Allsopp-Douglas at designhistorysociety@gmail.com
- Recipients must acknowledge the contribution of the DHS through the inclusion of the Society’s logo in any published or public presentation. Logos can be obtained from the DHS Senior Administrator.
The Application Process:
Applications are welcome all year round. The grant will remain open from 1st January each year until all allocated funds have been distributed.
Applicants are requested not to send CVs, as these will not be taken into consideration in the judging process.
The application form can be downloaded from this webpage.
Applications should be sent to the DHS Senior Administrator, Jenna Allsopp-Douglas at designhistorysociety@gmail.com
We aim to inform all applicants of the outcome of their submission within three weeks of the submission deadline via email
The DHS Executive reserves all rights to accept or reject any application
Please ensure you read the following statements before submitting your application:
Equity and Inclusion Statement: The DHS is committed to equity and inclusion and believes that engaging with a broad spectrum of voices and perspectives not only enriches the discourse but also uncovers new narratives within design history. In line with this commitment we encourage applications that represent, or whose work foregrounds, diverse perspectives and under-represented narratives within the field of design history.
Environmentally-Conscious Research: The DHS recognises that the climate crisis requires profound changes in the way research is planned, conducted and disseminated. In this light, we ask that grant applicants consider how their project has been shaped with an environmentally-conscious approach in relation to travel, participation and use of resources. This aligns both with the DHS' growing commitment to eco-conscious research and encouragement of research practices grounded in decolonial methodologies that centre the environment.
Travel: Applicants are encouraged to use public transportation such as rail or bus services, or car sharing. To help applicants understand the carbon footprint of their travel, applicants in Europe are encouraged to use the EcoPassenger carbon calculator and, for travel outside of Europe, the Climate Care calculator.
Research Methods and Dissemination: Applicants are encouraged to consider how aspects of their research might be conducted online (such as online interviews, requesting scans of archival material, etc.) and digital means for presenting and disseminating their research (online exhibitions, symposia, conferences, etc.).