The Dennis Holt Travel Scholarship, valued at £585, is awarded annually to a student who has demonstrated significant progress in their studies, originality in their work, and submitted the most meritorious proposal for travel that will enhance their academic and creative development.
This year's award supported Bibi's participation in UD26: Belonging, the 14th Meeting on PhD Design Research, held at the University of Aveiro, Portugal. At the conference, Bibi delivered a full paper presentation titled "Belonging to Time: Design Infrastructure as Mediator of Urgency and Continuity in Emergency Alerts and Educational Archives."
Bibi applied for the scholarship during the final stages of her PhD, recognising the importance of engaging with an international community of design researchers while there was still time to incorporate feedback into her thesis.
Her presentation showcased key elements of her doctoral research, including a textile taxonomy and a digital archive framework developed from an archive of student textile design projects spanning 27 years within the School of Design and Creative Arts at Loughborough University. The conference provided an opportunity to share these ideas with researchers working across design, archives and research methods, helping to test and strengthen the work through international discussion and critique.
The scholarship also built upon previous international research opportunities. Support from the School and the Doctoral College enabled Bibi to present her work at international conferences in 2025, including the International Association of Societies of Design Research (IASDR) conference in Taipei. Connections and conversations developed there directly informed the paper presented at UD26, highlighting the long-term value of international collaboration and academic exchange.
Reflecting on the experience, Bibi said:
"Presenting at UD26 in Aveiro, Portugal came at the right moment. I am in the final stage of my PhD. The questions I was asked in that room sharpened my thinking about the archive in a way that only happens in person.
What I value most is how these opportunities build on each other. The people I met at IASDR 2025 in Taipei shaped the writing of this paper. The conversations in Aveiro are already shaping what comes next. International exchange is not one event. It accumulates.
My thanks go to the Prizes Committee and to the Dennis Holt Travel Prize. My thanks also go to the School of Design and Creative Arts for the support that brought me here."
Congratulations to Bibi on receiving the 2026 Dennis Holt Travel Scholarship. The School looks forward to seeing the continued impact of her research as she completes her doctoral studies and contributes to future developments in design research, archives and heritage.