ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explores the concept of the “pracademic” – an industry professional who has decided to enter academia, as a “practitioner-academic”. It gives advice on how an academic who finds themselves in a workplace that may not naturally seem to be their “home” can nevertheless carve out a niche for themselves and make a valuable contribution. The book focuses on design research, from the PhD experience to the early career researcher stage. It also explores the common issues design academics might face in teaching design courses and designing a curriculum, and documents some innovative approaches to engaging students, both in person and online. The book begins with an internal focus on academics leading themselves in order to make the most of their time, energy and talent.
