I teach Product Design in the Department of Design Manufacture and Engineering Management (DMEM). I studied Architecture and Design at the University of Strathclyde and at the Graduate School of Design, Harvard University, USA, before becoming a registered architect. I have an MSc in Computer-Aided Building Design and a PhD in Design Education. I worked in architectural practice for over 12 years before moving to academia; joining DMEM in 2007.

As Director of UG Individual Projects I have the responsibility for the 4th and 5th year final individual student product design projects. I teach design methods and their application to product development and industrial project-based group work. I am responsible for the department’s Teaching and Learning Enhancements and have been involved in a number of projects and pilots to improve the Student Experience, Online Feedback and Assessment and Online CPD.

My research focus is in the area of distributed working, distributed information management and global design education, having worked on the JISC/NSF funded research DIDET Project (Distributed Innovative Design, Education and Teamwork) from 2003-2008, with colleagues from the Center for Design Research, Stanford University. My PhD investigated distributed design information management for global collaborations and I have published in over 40 journal and conference papers and this area.  My most recent research is an EPSRC funded grant on Data Information Systems - DaISy, part of the Big Data Programme - investigating the visualisation and handling of large secure data sets for the defence industry. 

• distributed working
• distributed information management
• design education
• creative design methods

I teach in the Global Design Class and in a Product Development Class with strong teaching interests in distributed design and design education. I have investigated creative design methods and how these might be applied to product design engineering projects and other engineering disciplines. More recently following the organisation of a CPD Circular Economy Conference at Strathclyde, headlining Dame Ellen McArthur, I am interested in how creativity can be applied to the design of sustainable of products.