Robert Young is the Associate Dean for Research and Consultancy in the School of Design at the
University of Northumbria at Newcastle, U.K. He has directed research activities in the School of
Design since 1991 and the Centre for Design Research since its inception in 1996. He also serves
as a member of the Design Research Society Council and is a member of the European Academy of
Designers.
Before taking up a full time academic appointment he worked with the furniture industry, in
engineering manufacturing industries and as a consultant designer and researcher with the Home
Office and emergency services. He was the leader of the renowned Design for Industry degree
programme at Newcastle between 1989 and 1995, which has produced many of the product design
industryıs celebrated practitioners.
In 1989 he also helped to set up the Centre for Industrial Design, which is now subsumed within
the Centre for Design Research. This is a research led design consultancy working in direct
association with local, national and international industry. Through his work directing the Centre
he has been involved in managing research led professional design practice projects in product,
interface and interaction design and has been the recipient of European and Research Council
funding to develop medical innovations for manufacturers.
He has led the development of doctoral design research degree programmes in the university. Many
of the PhD candidates he supervises are engaged directly in collaborative and live design practice
projects with industry.
His own research and consultancy interests include; exploring the future of design practice,
complex systems design, digital design practice, design innovation and technology transfer to
assist industry, user experience issues in design including design for the ageing population,
responsible design practice and action research in design practice.
Poster design by Matt Creasey
BA Graphic Design, De Montfort University
Selected Publications
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