QUT academic receives international design research honour - 2006

27 November 2006

Queensland University of Technology academic Professor Vesna Popovic has been internationally recognised with her recent election as a Fellow of the Design Research Society.

Professor Popovic was selected for her established record of achievement in design research, and attainment of peer recognition as a researcher of professional standing and competence.

The Design Research Society has been a multi-disciplinary international learned society for the design research community for 40 years.

Professor Popovic is leader of the Human-Centred Design Research at QUT's Faculty of the Built Environment and Engineering.

Her research is based on an integration of human-centred design research with diverse disciplines such as medicine, science, engineering, humanities and information technology.

Earlier this year, Professor Popovic established the new, state-of-the art Human-Centred Design Research and Usability Laboratory at QUT.

She said the laboratory was 'an invaluable resource'.

"Human-centred design differs from other design approaches in that the needs, wants and limitations to the end user are given extensive attention at each stage of the design and development process," she said.

"It is a process that not only requires designers to analyse how users are likely to interact with a product or service, but to test the validity of their outcomes with the users and understand their experiences.

"This involves observing the relationships between devices and users, within the contextual environment of the device's intended use."

Professor Popovic said the lab featured two-way mirrors, audio-visual recording equipment and software that enabled analysis of activities, postures, facial expressions and other aspects of people interacting with devices.

Some examples of research involving the lab include: investigation of novice-expert interaction with complex devices; exploring intuitive interaction; and examining compression bandaging methods and nurse-patient interaction during this process.

Media contacts: Professor Vesna Popovic - 3138 2669 or 04 1613 2669 Niki Widdowson, QUT media officer - 3138 1841 or n.widdowson@qut.edu.au.