ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces the current context of academic work and our concept of running the academic marathon. As academic work is a continuous endeavour, the results of those multiple sprints form part of our running of the academic marathon. The chapter presents academic journey maps from three Design academics at early and mid-career stages. The academic career is one of progression that is signalled by three distinct stages: early career academic, mid-career academic and professor. The early career and mid-career academic journey maps and insights from the interviews with the professors reveals that being productive as an academic entails different approaches to Planning and Executing as Planned. The chapter illustrates the several key career stages and productivity experiences of Australian academics in Design disciplines. In Australia, the academic calendar starts with a pre-semester time from December to late February; in some courses, this period constitutes summer semester.
