Research Outputs

The DHW Lab is a hub of applied, design-led, interdisciplinary research projects. We develop products, services, systems and experiences for the improved health and wellbeing of our population.

DHW Lab projects are characterised by human-centred methodologies that acknowledge the importance of understanding end-users’ experiences using primary research methods such as interviewing and careful observation. We aim to involve patients, families, and hospital staff early in the research phase of a project to ensure their insights inform the design solutions that are right for them.

The Lab provides access to meaningful, real-life design problems for both academic staff and students. We aim to enhance learning experiences for students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels by providing them with real-world opportunities and contexts for their work. This enables our students and academic staff to approach design problems with the support and working knowledge of healthcare professionals. It also provides an opportunity for clinicians and other healthcare professionals to engage with design led research.

Prototyping an Emotionally Responsive Hospital Environment

Co-design to understand the tracheostomy product experiences of long-term tracheostomy users

Co-designing for mental health: creative methods to engage young people experiencing psychosis

Prototyping collaborative relationships between design and healthcare experts: mapping the patient journey

[VIDEO] Nick Hayes at UX Homegrown 2017

Participatory art-based research with children to gain their perspectives on designing healthcare environments

Designing the future of healthcare together: prototyping a hospital co-design space

Making Things Happen: Experiments in prototyping from a hospital design lab.

Designing New Healthcare Experiences: prototyping a physical space that enables a design approach to improving patient experiences in hospital

A life changing event _A life changing event - Tracheostomy

A selection of Masters theses completed by our students:

Byron Thornhill: Clinical guidelines: designing for accurate decision-making

Neerali Parbhu: Valuing the voices of children: a case study of involving children in the process of medical equipment design in the hospital environment

Eden Short: Wayfinding for health seeking: a design-led exploration of how wayfinding employing empathetic communication design can improve the hospital outpatient experience

Leona Yuxi Wang: A uniform to welcome: Identity and style through design and mix-method pattern cutting approach

[VIDEO] Holistic wayfinding practice - Eden Short

Rebecca Jury: Not for me without me: co-designing assistive technology with people affected by dementia