Dr. Philip Black

Biography

Philip joined the University of Manchester as a Lecturer in Urban Design in 2015, having previously worked at the University of Reading and Queen's University Belfast. Before entering academia, he worked as an urban designer at the architectural firm HBD Architects Ltd with offices in Belfast, London, and Pune, India. He is currently the Director of the Manchester Urban Design LAB and Programme Director for the MSc in Urban Design and International Planning. Philip's research focuses on applied urban design, emphasizing design quality evaluation, design control, cycling mobility, and urban design processes. He actively supervises several PhD students working on related interests and has successfully led multiple projects funded by local authorities and research councils. In 2020, he established the MUD-Lab at the University of Manchester, which aims to provide world-class resources for urban design research and emphasize engagement with the industry. His goal is to position the University as a leading international institution for urban design studies. Additionally, he is a member of several professional bodies such as the Academy of Urbanism and the Royal Geographic Society. His notable research includes 'Applied Urban Design' and projects focused on cycling design in Manchester and the urban design process methods in Egypt.

Research Interests