Creative Digital Futures: AI, Data, Design, Art (Ref: SDCA26-SF-002)

About the Project

Digital futures in design and creative arts interrogate the transformative impact of AI, data, and emerging technologies on practice, society, and ethics. This area invites exploration of how designers and artists can shape responsible, human-centred digital systems. It is catalysed by emerging debates around the critical role of the creative industries. Challenges include algorithmic bias, data privacy, and the erosion of trust in digital environments. Research questions include: How can design and creative methodologies foster transparency and accountability in AI systems? What new forms of creativity and authorship emerge in human-AI collaboration? How can data visualisation and interaction design and art support civic engagement and digital literacy? Projects may involve posthuman art practices, speculative design, critical data studies, generative AI, and ethical innovation, with opportunities to explore interdisciplinary links to computer science, law, and sociology.

Supervisor

• Prof Claire Warden (C.Warden@lboro.ac.uk)

Tuition fees for 2026-27 entry

• UK fee - £5,238 Full-time degree per annum
• International fee - £29,500 Full-time degree per annum

Fees for the 2026-27 academic year apply to projects starting in October 2026, February 2027 and July 2027.

UK tuition fees for 2026/27 are currently to be confirmed pending the release of the UKRI recommended rates. Once published, these rates will be subject to formal approval by the University before being confirmed.

Opportunity Details

• Target Start Date: October 2026
• Full time or part time available.
• Open to UK and international applicants.

How to Apply

We welcome discussions with interested candidates.

• Step 1: Interested applicants should first contact Professor Claire Warden (C.Warden@lboro.ac.uk) to discuss your research interests and funding options.
• Step 2: Applicants are then strongly encouraged to contact potential supervisors with a CV, academic transcripts, and confirmation of funding sources or planned funding sources.
• Step 3: following any informal discussion, applicants are invited to make a formal application on the Loughborough Website.