In 2000 the Industrial Design Research Group was established to promote research within the subject area. The research activity falls into three broad areas:

• The Innovation Process.

• Design & Emotion.

• Glass Technology.

Innovation Process Research

Mr Ian Walsh is driving the research activity in this area. The primary aim of the research is to examine the efficacy of the industrial design education process as a model for developing an innovation mindset. The research is in collaboration with Prof. Marc Clement, Chair of Innovation at Swansea University. The research work has so far produced 8 conference publications involving 6 academics and 7 students..

Design & Emotion
Mr Sean Jenkins, Dr Ray Brown and Dr Kelvin Donne are the lead researchers in this area of activity. The primary aim of the research is to investigate methods of modelling the emotional response of users to the products they interact with. In the initial phase Dr Donne conducted research into the physiological and psychological response of users of ‘action' furniture. The results of this investigation were subsequently fed back into the design process to re-design the furniture. The outcome of this phase was the successful completion of a PhD thesis in 2006. The second phase of the ‘Design and Emotion' research activity is being led by Mr Sean Jenkins under the supervision of Dr Brown and Dr Donne. Mr Jenkins is investigating the use of thermography as a means of investigating emotional response to product interaction.

Glass Technology
Research into glass technology is split into two distinct areas of activity. The work in automotive glass is primarily commercial research and as such is governed by confidentiality agreements. Mr Matthew Archer and Dr Donne are leading the research in collaboration with Dr Chris Davies, Innovation Manager of Belron Technical Ltd - the world's largest automotive glass repair and replacement company. The second group is a collaborative research activity between the School of Industrial Design and the Welsh School of Architectural Glass. Dr Kelvin Donne has been investigating the use of rapid prototyping and rapid visualisation techniques in 3D glass design. The research has produced publications and an award from Bombay Sapphire for the design of an innovative martini glass. Ms Tyra Oseng under the supervision of Dr Brown, Dr Donne and Mr Rodney Bender is investigating the use of recycled glass in the design and production of consumer products. The research is primarily experimental in nature. Ms Oseng has exhibited her work in London in 2005 and 2006.

Staff participating in this research group include:

Sean Jenkins
Dr Raymond Brown
Dr Ian Walsh
Rodney Bender