Bernadette is a PhD researcher from Kilkenny, Ireland. She graduated with a first class honours in Industrial Design from Institute of Technology, Carlow, Ireland in 2007 and completed a two year MA by research in User Centred Design Education for Empathy in 2013. She has a long interest in design for empathy, and the psychological elements of user engagement specifically how design can be used to educate and empower society through products and services.
Thesis title: Empowering elderly patients and their carers’ during engagements with formal hospital care through participatory design.
Bernadette is currently undertaking a PhD at Loughborough University (part-time study) focusing on empowering elderly patients and their carers’ during engagements with formal hospital care. The aim of the study is to understand the holistic care needs of this growing group that often lay beyond clinical requirements and explore how participarory design methods can be used to develop empowering solutions for all stakeholders.
Supervisors: Professor Sue Hignett and Sharon Cook.