Grant's primary research focus is graphic design education. His PhD completed in 2014 is titled Graphic Design Education: Fostering the conditions for transfer in a project-based and studio-based learning environment, through a structured and critical approach to reflective practice.
Grant has published nationally and internationally drawing on the research developed through his PhD. Recent work extends the PhD research to link these topics with levels of design expertise
Grant is a member of SENSE Spaces, a multi-disciplinary research group funded by Global Challenges (UOW) that is researching the design of multi-sensory environments. Grant is contributing expertise in design thinking and design process, and the principles of Co-design and user experience.
Grant lectures across the Photography and Visual Communication Design programs in the School of the Arts, English and Media at the University of Wollongong.
Sensory Environments for Supporting Experiences: learning from the CareWays Community Multi-Sensory Room
<p>Drawing on international research this project has designed and developed a community-based multi-sensory environment (MSE) at the Horsley Community Centre in the Illawarra. An MSE provides a safe, non-threatening environment for children and adults with cognitive, behavioural and physical impairments to engage in a range of sensory experiences. The experiences provided by an MSE can either calm or stimulate the primary senses using sensory-based materials such as fibre optics sprays, bubble tubes, music, colour, lighting and aroma. We know that multisensory environments provide the ability to control sensory experiences and stimulation of the primary senses to encourage relaxation and enjoyment which can be helpful for multiple groups such as senior citizens/aged care, people with physical disabilities and those with conditions such as dementia, autism spectrum disorders and also people with anxiety and challenging behaviours.<br /><br />The project forged a unique partnership between CareWays Illawarra and the University of Wollongong (UOW). Methodologically, this project used participatory action research to foster the involvement of people with disabilities, their carers, families and disability services to assist in the design and development of the space to best meet the needs of the whole community. <br /><br />Initially known as the SMILE team, the project is now called Sense (Sensory Environments for Supporting Experiences) Spaces. It has expanded to explore the impact of MSEs for cross-sector user groups. The project has grown from establishing an MSE to examining the immediate and lasting impact of using an MSE, and whether personalisation of the MSE can increase use or provide a more meaningful experience. Utilising different design-thinking approaches with coordinated communication plans will be significant as we engage, define, ideate, prototype and test across sectors to provide effective ways of delivering MSEs. </p>
<p><strong>Giving voice to the unheard<br /></strong>By using a community based participatory research approach, the SMILE team created space for the voice of parents, carers and people with disabilities to shape the development of this community-based resource. Often these end-users are marginalised, however by using this approach throughout the three phases of the research study, the research team was able to include new perspectives on knowledge and understanding of multi-sensory environments. <br /><br /><strong>Public Access and Leisure Use</strong><br />The room is available from 7 am – 11 pm, seven days a week. It can be reserved through an online booking system, with the cost per session set at a minimal rate to cover running costs. Multiple people can use the room at once. The room is also registered with the Australian National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), which can fund the use of the MSE for people living with recognised disabilities. <br />The room is designed to be used independently of therapy. This impacts on the self-determination of individuals and groups such as playgroups, aged-care and disability support groups to create meaningful personal engagement with the MSE as it allows the individual to choose the equipment that they interact within the room.<br /><br /><strong>Co-Design and Expanding Influence</strong></p><p>The initial SMILE team has completed it's funding. An extended team was successful in securing 2019/20 Global Challenges funding to explore the impact of MSEs for cross-sector user groups. Now known as Sense Spaces, the project is strengthening its co-design theoretical background to be able to build replicable models for leisure-based MSEs in different domains. Alongside this, the inclusion of Public Relations expertise allows the scope of research to examine theories to inform strategic communication plans in community organisations. <br />Over the past two years, the MSE project has supported three Information Technology/Human-Computer Interaction Masters projects, and two Information Technology/Computer Science undergraduate projects. The MSE has provided a platform for these students to understand that their technical expertise can have significant benefits to the wider community in a non-traditional career area.</p>
Beneficiary
Quantification
Description
Evidence
Description
Supervision
Available as Research Supervisor
Potential Supervision Topics
Design thinking
Design process
Reflective practice
User interface design
Advisees
Graduate Advising Relationship
Degree
Research Title
Advisee
Doctor of Philosophy
Designing for the Self: A Constructive Design Research Approach to the Personalisation of iOS Graphics
Watts, Jody
Background
Education And Training
Ph.D.
in Design,
University of Wollongong,
School of Education,
Graphic Design Education: Fostering the conditions for transfer in a project-based and studio-based learning environment, through a structured and critical approach to reflective practice 2005 - 2014
Sensory Environments for Supporting Experiences: learning from the CareWays Community Multi-Sensory Room
<p>Drawing on international research this project has designed and developed a community-based multi-sensory environment (MSE) at the Horsley Community Centre in the Illawarra. An MSE provides a safe, non-threatening environment for children and adults with cognitive, behavioural and physical impairments to engage in a range of sensory experiences. The experiences provided by an MSE can either calm or stimulate the primary senses using sensory-based materials such as fibre optics sprays, bubble tubes, music, colour, lighting and aroma. We know that multisensory environments provide the ability to control sensory experiences and stimulation of the primary senses to encourage relaxation and enjoyment which can be helpful for multiple groups such as senior citizens/aged care, people with physical disabilities and those with conditions such as dementia, autism spectrum disorders and also people with anxiety and challenging behaviours.<br /><br />The project forged a unique partnership between CareWays Illawarra and the University of Wollongong (UOW). Methodologically, this project used participatory action research to foster the involvement of people with disabilities, their carers, families and disability services to assist in the design and development of the space to best meet the needs of the whole community. <br /><br />Initially known as the SMILE team, the project is now called Sense (Sensory Environments for Supporting Experiences) Spaces. It has expanded to explore the impact of MSEs for cross-sector user groups. The project has grown from establishing an MSE to examining the immediate and lasting impact of using an MSE, and whether personalisation of the MSE can increase use or provide a more meaningful experience. Utilising different design-thinking approaches with coordinated communication plans will be significant as we engage, define, ideate, prototype and test across sectors to provide effective ways of delivering MSEs. </p>
<p><strong>Giving voice to the unheard<br /></strong>By using a community based participatory research approach, the SMILE team created space for the voice of parents, carers and people with disabilities to shape the development of this community-based resource. Often these end-users are marginalised, however by using this approach throughout the three phases of the research study, the research team was able to include new perspectives on knowledge and understanding of multi-sensory environments. <br /><br /><strong>Public Access and Leisure Use</strong><br />The room is available from 7 am – 11 pm, seven days a week. It can be reserved through an online booking system, with the cost per session set at a minimal rate to cover running costs. Multiple people can use the room at once. The room is also registered with the Australian National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), which can fund the use of the MSE for people living with recognised disabilities. <br />The room is designed to be used independently of therapy. This impacts on the self-determination of individuals and groups such as playgroups, aged-care and disability support groups to create meaningful personal engagement with the MSE as it allows the individual to choose the equipment that they interact within the room.<br /><br /><strong>Co-Design and Expanding Influence</strong></p><p>The initial SMILE team has completed it's funding. An extended team was successful in securing 2019/20 Global Challenges funding to explore the impact of MSEs for cross-sector user groups. Now known as Sense Spaces, the project is strengthening its co-design theoretical background to be able to build replicable models for leisure-based MSEs in different domains. Alongside this, the inclusion of Public Relations expertise allows the scope of research to examine theories to inform strategic communication plans in community organisations. <br />Over the past two years, the MSE project has supported three Information Technology/Human-Computer Interaction Masters projects, and two Information Technology/Computer Science undergraduate projects. The MSE has provided a platform for these students to understand that their technical expertise can have significant benefits to the wider community in a non-traditional career area.</p>
Beneficiary
Quantification
Description
Evidence
Description
Supervision
Potential Supervision Topics
Design thinking
Design process
Reflective practice
User interface design
Advisees
Graduate Advising Relationship
Degree
Research Title
Advisee
Doctor of Philosophy
Designing for the Self: A Constructive Design Research Approach to the Personalisation of iOS Graphics
Watts, Jody
Background
Education And Training
Ph.D.
in Design,
University of Wollongong,
School of Education,
Graphic Design Education: Fostering the conditions for transfer in a project-based and studio-based learning environment, through a structured and critical approach to reflective practice 2005 - 2014
