The World University of Design (WUD) is committed to advancing research, knowledge creation, and innovation in design, arts, architecture and the wider creative domain. Research at WUD integrates academic inquiry with practice-led exploration, industry engagement as also societal relevance.  

As India’s first university dedicated exclusively to the creative domain, WUD positions research not as an isolated activity, but as a core academic function that informs teaching, professional practice, policy and cultural discourse.  

Research at WUD is guided by the belief that design and creative practices are powerful tools for inquiry, problem-solving and transformation. The university encourages research that is Interdisciplinary and practice-led; Rooted in Indian contexts while engaging globally; Responsive to social, cultural, technological, and environmental challenges; and also connected to industry, policy and community needs.

Key Research Areas - Research at WUD spans a wide range of thematic and disciplinary areas that are supported through faculty-led projects, doctoral research, funded studies, and collaborative initiatives. The areas include but are not limited to:

• Design Research & Design Thinking
 
• Sustainable Design & Social Innovation
 
• Fashion, Textiles & Material Studies
 
• Visual Communication, New Media & Digital Design
 
• Animation, Game Design & Interactive Media
 
• Performing Arts, Film & Transmedia Practices
 
• Craft, Heritage & Cultural Studies
 
• Art History, Curation & Contemporary Art Practices
 
• Human–Computer Interaction, UX & Emerging Technologies
 

 WUD offers a full-time and part-time PhD programme across design, arts, architecture, and allied creative disciplines. The doctoral programme is designed to support original research that contributes to both theory and practice. The current list of awarded/on-going PhDs at WUD is here.

 Faculty members at WUD are actively engaged in research, publication, and professional practice. Their work informs curriculum development and contributes to WUD’s broader academic ecosystem. The research output includes:

• Research papers in peer-reviewed national and international journals
 
• Chapters in edited academic books
 
• Authored and edited books
 
• Conference papers and keynote presentations
 
• Curated exhibitions, films, performances, and design outputs
 
• Practice-based research and design-led inquiry
 

 WUD undertakes funded research projects in collaboration with national and international agencies, universities, cultural organisations, and industry partners. Notable projects (click here for the list) have involved collaborations with international universities and funding bodies, contributing to knowledge exchange and global engagement.

 WUD regularly organises and hosts national and international conferences, research seminars, lecture series, workshops and colloquia, artist and designer talks. These platforms facilitate dialogue between academia, industry, practitioners, and policymakers, and support the dissemination of research outcomes.

The conferences organized by WUD are –

• Zeitgeist – An International Conference on Cultural, Spatial & Sensory Futures of Art, Design & Architecture


• Anveshna – An International Conference of Performing Arts


• FTC – An International Conference on Functional Textiles & Clothing


• EAD – Doctoral Education in Design Conference
 

 WUD encourages research engagement at all levels. Undergraduate and postgraduate students participate in research-led IPRs (patents/ designs/ copyrights), research-led studios, graduation projects, collaborative research initiatives, and conference presentations and exhibitions. This early exposure helps build a strong research culture across the university. A list of student IPRs is here and conference publications is here.  

Ethics, Quality & Academic Integrity - All research at WUD adheres to established ethical standards and academic integrity guidelines. The university follows appropriate review processes to ensure responsible research practices.