Faculty Of Architecture and Design

Established in 2018, the Faculty of Architecture and Design (FOAD) at Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Pune, is dedicated to fostering creativity, critical thinking, and innovation in the fields of design and architecture. It offers cutting-edge undergraduate and postgraduate programs across its two schools; Symbiosis Institute of Design (SID), Pune and Symbiosis School of Planning, Architecture and Design (SSPAD), Nagpur. With a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary and practice-based research, FOAD faculty members are deeply engaged in advancing knowledge across diverse domains of design like user experience, visual communication, fashion studies, product innovation, architecture, and spatial design to sustainable practices, cultural studies, and design pedagogy. Faculty research often bridges theory and practice, addressing real-world challenges while contributing to emerging design discourse. The faculty also promotes intellectual property generation as part of its research ecosystem with members having contributed to the development of innovative design solutions that lead to copyrights and design registrations.

Constituent Institutes offering the Ph D Programme under the Faculty of Architecture and Design:

• Symbiosis Institute of Design (SID), Pune
• Symbiosis School of Planning, Architecture and Design (SSPAD), Nagpur

Focus Areas of the Faculty of Architecture and Design:

This is an indicative list (prospective scholars can contact the PhD supervisors for discussion)

Visual Communication:

• Graphic Design including Information Design and Data Visualization, Brand Identity and Strategic Visual Design, Typographic Design, Narrative and Storytelling in Visual Media and New Media
• Design Semiotics and Meaning-Making
• User Experience, Interaction and Interface Design
• Cultural Visualities and Indigenous Communication Systems

Fashion Studies:

• Indian Costumes and Textiles, Traditional Crafts and Contemporary Fashion Integration
• Fashion and Identity / Gender Studies
• Smart and Functional Textiles, Material Innovation, Inclusive and Adaptive Fashion Design, Sustainable and Ethical Fashion
• Fashion Forecasting and Trend Analysis, Fashion Branding and Consumer Behavior
• Visual Merchandising and Fashion Styling
• Fashion Media, Journalism, Criticism, Social Media, Influencer Culture in Fashion, and Cultural Representations in Fashion Media
• Fashion Photography and Digital Imaging
• Fashion Marketing, Merchandising and Retail Strategy

Product Design:

• Design for Social Impact, Design for Rural and Resource-Constrained Contexts, Inclusive and Assistive Product Design
• User-Centered and Participatory Design
• Sustainable Product Design and Design for Circular Economy
• Ergonomics and Human Factors
• Material Innovation, Craft-Tech Integration, Digital Fabrication and Emerging Technologies
• Design for Behavior Change / Emotional Design

Architecture and Interior Space Design:

• Architecture, Urban Planning and Public Space Design
• Sustainable and Climate-Responsive Architecture
• Heritage Conservation, Restoration Practices and Adaptive Reuse
• Vernacular and Indigenous Architecture
• Smart Cities and Digital Architecture
• Interior Systems, Material and Construction Innovation
• Pedagogy in Architectural Education
• Spatial Experience and Environmental Psychology
• Healthcare, Educational, Retail and Hospitality Space Design
• Sustainable Interiors and Green Building Practices
• Lighting, Acoustic, Furniture and Fixture Design

Specialized Laboratories/ Facilities for Conduct of Research at the Faculty of Architecture and Design:

The PhD programme under the Faculty of Architecture and Design (FoAD) at Symbiosis International (Deemed University) is a rigorous, research-intensive program designed to foster original inquiry and critical engagement in the design. Doctoral scholars are expected to undertake independent, high-quality research under the mentorship of experienced and interdisciplinary faculty, who are active researchers in their respective domains.

The PhD programme begins with a structured pre-PhD coursework, equipping scholars with a robust foundation in design theory and design research. The curriculum includes key areas such as qualitative and quantitative research methodology, design thinking, academic writing, design theory, and domainspecific literature reviews. The coursework aims to prepare scholars for independent and contextually relevant research. Upon successful completion of coursework and the research proposal presentation, scholars proceed to develop and execute their doctoral research projects, often collaborating with interdisciplinary scholars, design researchers and design practitioners. FoAD also encourages participation in academic conferences, exhibitions, publications, and symposia, including events hosted by SIU, to help scholars refine and disseminate their work to broader academic and professional communities.