Dr Timothy Whitehead is a Senior Lecturer in Product Design and Senior Fellow of HEA with a research interest in developing tools and approaches to improve the design of products distributed in low-income countries. He has developed a unique research area which has consisted of several projects funded through the Global Challenges Research Fund, which utilises design methods and new technology to improve the livelihood of those living on less than $1 a day. 

See personal website: www.timothywhitehead.com

Selected Funding Awarded. 

• 2021 - Principal Investigator. Title: Inclusive Innovation: Supporting people with disabilities through design and entrepreneurship. British Council. £120,000 (www.inclusive-innovation.co.uk)
• 2020 – Principal Investigator. Title: Circular Plastic: Utilising frontier technology and user-centred design to add value to plastic waste, facilitating entrepreneurship. EPSRC - GCRF. £150,000 (www.circularplastic.net)
• 2020 – Co-Investigator. Title: Digital Innovations for Transitioning to a Circular plastic Economy - (DITCh Plastic). EPSRC - GCRF. £148,738 (www.ditch-plastic.org)
• 2018 – Principal Investigator. Title; Circular Digital Manufacturing: A toolkit to disseminate a circular economy approach to 3D Printing with plastic waste in Kenya and surrounding African countries. Funded by GCRF Institutional Block Grant. £42,333 (www.3dp-guide.co.uk)
• 2018 – Co-Investigator. Title: Wealth from Waste: Value-added products for Chennai waste pickers. Funded by Royal Academy of Engineers GCRF Frontiers Scheme 4. £30,000
• 2018 - Co-Investigator. Title; Raising awareness of inclusive crafts: building capacity and self-sufficiency of communication within the Charity SAFOD and the Countries of SA. Funded by AHRC GCRF Follow-on Funding. £71,244

• 2022 International Design Excellence Award (IDEA): Silver
• 2019 Research with Impact - Environmental Association for Universities & Colleges: Finalist
• 2018 International Design Excellence Award (IDEA): Finalist
• 2011 INDEX Design to Improve Life Award: Finalist, Highly Commended
• 2011 International Design Excellence Award (IDEA): Sliver
• 2010 James Dyson Award: UK Winner

• Member of the Institute of Engineering Designers
• Member of the Royal Society of Arts

Programme Director:

• BSc Product Design and Technology
• BSc Product Design and Management

Module Leadership: 

• Design Fundamentals                       
• Industrial Design
• Advanced Industrial Design
• Digital Design Skills
• Final Year Design Project

• Hikima Jewu. Title: Barriers to Sustainable NGO WaSH
  Projects in Low-Middle Income SubSaharan Africa  -2021

Phone number: 0121 204 4663
Email: [email protected] 
Room number: MB153E

Open to PhD applicants in areas of Design for International Development, Industrial Design & Design Practice