The DoWell research group offers an expanded interdisciplinary workshop and lectures series this year to provide the opportunity for colleagues to explore an exciting range of different topics, including practices and approaches to co-designing in various health and care contexts. The format of the monthly sessions is more flexible this year, including online presentations and panel discussions as well as in-person workshops for colleagues to get hands-on experience and get involved in the different approaches to co-design. The workshops aim to provide a forum and time for colleagues to meet and get to know each other’s work, and to foster discussion and cross-faculty collaboration.
At DoWell –Design for Health and Wellbeing Research group– we pioneer the use of collaborative creative processes from craft and design to support people’s mental and physical health and to improve products, environments, services and interactions for health and care. We co-design our research into the social and societal aspects of health and wellbeing with the people who will benefit from our studies. Our research contributes to national and international action on mental health, disability, dementia and neurodiversity.
Everyone welcome. Please find the programme overview as below and register through Eventbrite.
We are looking forward seeing you all in the workshops.
Kristina Niedderer & DoWell group
Programme Overview
Session 1: Technology in co-designing
Wednesday 22 January 2025, 3.30-5pm, Brooks Building BR 1.66
Dr Yael Benn, Manchester Metropolitan University
We have a large and diverse campus, with many resources and opportunists for collaborations that we are often not aware of. In this session, we will explore resources in the Brooks building- from technical equipment such as eye tracking, to creative spaces such as the 'CAVE' where we can create an environment by projecting on 3 walls and the floor. In particular, we will explore how these resources can be used to develop and deliver creative approaches to interventions/ research.
Session 2: Postgraduate Research Showcase
Wednesday 12 February 2025, 1-3pm, Business School BS3.01
Our postgraduate research students will share their ideas in co-designing and disseminate their research. The session offer opportunity to network and share experiences with wider university community.
Session 3: Beyond Access: Disability Culture Changing Design
Wednesday 19 February 2025, 1 – 2.30 pm, Online Session
Dr Bess Williamson, North Carolina State University
In this talk, Dr. Bess Williamson, author of Accessible America: A History of Disability and Design, will share ways that disabled designers and activists are changing design approaches to accessibility. From Universal and Inclusive Design, to Disability Justice, these new practices center the lived experience of disabled people and their contributions to design.
Session 4: Well-making for well-being
Wednesday 19 March 2025, 3.30-5pm, Business School BS 3.01
Dr Nicholas Gant, University of Brighton
Session 5: Designing for children with brain conditions from client initiation to manufacture stages
Wednesday 30 April 2025, 3.30-5pm, Online Session
Dr Ross Head, University of Wales and Cerebra Innovation Centre
Dr Ross Head, is the Design manager for Cerebra Innovation Centre, and is responsible for leading an innovative team of product designers to create beautiful, functional, bespoke products for children with brain conditions for the national charity Cerebra. In this talk, Dr Head will discuss the process from client initiation, through the design and manufacture stages using case studies to demonstrate successes, failures and best practice.
Session 6: The Gallery, Material and Wellbeing
Wednesday 28 May 2025, 3.30-5pm, Grosvenor East GE 4.05
Dr Lynn Setterington & Dr Dena Bagi, Manchester Metropolitan University
Dr Lynn Setterington and Dr Dena Bagi will discuss their gallery-based practices, which aim to improve/maintain the wellbeing of those involved in working with craft materials. The pair, who practice as an artist-academic and pedagogical designer in the gallery context, will explore material-based engagement methods used in the gallery context. They will also touch on the gallery as a space for healing/wellbeing.
Lynn will talk directly about her ongoing project at Gallery Oldham, and Dena will present the outcome of her PhD, Clay Pedagogy. Both projects explore how collective material-based making in the gallery space can aid a healing journey or general wellbeing.
Session 7: TBC
Wednesday 25 June 2025, 3.30-5pm, Business School BS 3.01
Dr Racheal Marsden, University of Birmingham