Writing and research
Thinking made
public.
This is a developing publication space for research, working papers, essays and talks. It will grow deliberately: released work first, archive second.
Featured research
Beyond Borders
A graphic exposition by Don Parker examining transdisciplinary praxis, Practice as Research and the porous university.
01 / Research theme
Human capability in the age of AI
What remains distinctly human when generative systems can produce plausible answers, images and decisions? This work helps educators and organisations decide where automation is useful and where human judgement, responsibility and imagination remain essential.
02 / Research theme
Judgement, learning and assessment
Dialogue, evidence and reflective articulation can make learning visible without reducing it to compliance. The aim is assessment that remains rigorous and workable at scale while giving students a meaningful account of their own decisions.
03 / Research theme
Studio systems and interdisciplinarity
Environments, structures and shared practices enable people from different disciplines to make together. This research translates the ambiguity of creative collaboration into conditions that teams, educators and partners can use.
04 / Research theme
Practice knowledge and boundaries
Knowledge travels between design, education, institutions and creative production. Making those movements visible helps institutions recognise forms of expertise that conventional academic or organisational structures can overlook.
Research record
Published work
Published and presented research, followed by the two editions of the current Beyond Borders contribution.
Jenkins, D. and Parker, D. (2026) ‘Unlocking the Educational Opportunities of Immersive Learning Environments: Towards a Meta-Reality Pedagogy’, in Martins, N. and Brandão, D. (eds.) Advances in Design and Digital Communication VI. Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland, pp. 596–609. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-13836-1_44.
Parker, D., Reid, L., Marvell, A. and Ward, P. (2021) ‘Virtually the Same: Understanding Consumer Experience in an Omnichannel Environment’, in The Value of Design in Retail and Branding. United Kingdom: Emerald, pp. 123–135. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80071-579-020211010.
Parker, D. and Pryor, A. (2020) ‘Connecting the Dots: Practice as Research (PaR) as an Innovative Creative Industries Pedagogy’, in Applied Degree Education and the Future of Work: Education 4.0. Singapore: Springer, pp. 241–253. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-3142-2_19.
Parker, D. and Pryor, A. (2019) ‘A study of transdisciplinary research practices as a praxis point of interface in relation to institutional borders and the porous University’, THEi AECT 2019 International Conference, 16 April.
Parker, D. and McIntre-Bhatty, T. (2011) ‘The Art of War in Manufacturing Consumer Consent: Strategy, Business Culture and Ethics in Marketing Management’, Chinese Management Studies, 5(4), pp. 450–459. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1108/17506141111183488.
Parker, D. (forthcoming) Transdisciplinary Research Practices as Praxis: Visualising the Porous Interface. Graphic research exposition for Beyond Borders, edited by J. Taylor. Available at: donparker.co.uk.
Parker, D. (forthcoming) Beyond Borders: Extended Remix. Extended research edition. Available at: donparker.co.uk.
Earlier work
Research through creative practice
Earlier research examined the relationship between design, marketing, organisations and consumer culture. Between 2008 and 2012 this inquiry also took public form through conference papers, film, installation and exhibition work.
That history matters here because it shows creative production and academic inquiry developing together. The retained Institution One research record provides a route into this earlier work.
Pipeline
Working papers
Current writing includes work on pedagogic latency, assessment dialogue and the changing relationship between human judgement and generative AI. Individual papers will appear here only when they are ready for public release.