Summary
I am a Reader in Design and Creative Practice in Health and Co-Director of Lab4Living, an interdisciplinary research cluster at Sheffield Hallam University.
My research focuses on the role of design and creative practice in promoting wellbeing and quality of life. Within all aspects of my work I continue to be particularly inspired by older people and by people living with dementia and the remarkable stories they tell about their lives and much of my research focuses in this area.
I utilise design methods including artefacts, photography and art to build understanding of the experiences of individuals and then develop creative responses to these. These responses have manifested themselves in films, commercially available products and nationally commissioned interventions and have informed government guidelines (NICE 2008 and 2015, Alzheimer Scotland, 2018). I am author of 8 books and have written widely about the value of creative practice and design and health.
My research with older people has led to global collaborations with older people, colleagues in design and in healthcare. Current collaborations include Australia and New Zealand, Canada, Poland, the Netherlands, Denmark and Switzerland. I am part of an international think-tank on social inclusion and more locally I sit on the steering group of the Sheffield Action Alliance.
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About
I am a National Teaching Fellow and was awarded a Fellowship from the College of Occupational Therapists in 2012, in recognition of my contribution to the profession. I have also been awarded the Higher Education Academy Health Science and Practice Award and currently hold three Inspirational Teaching Awards and the Vice Chancellor's Award for learning and teaching within my university.
My PhD has focused on visual methods in gerontological research and I welcome the opportunity to supervise students with an interest in visual methods, practice based research and all topics relating to older people and people with dementia.
I have taught across a number of programmes in the University including BSc and Master's provision in Occupational Therapy and the Masters in Design. I am supervisor on a PhD and am currently advisor on a Microsoft PhD focusing on dementia. I hold lectureships in Malta and Switzerland and have taught and undertaken research with colleagues and institutions in Lisbon, Canada, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Germany and Poland. I am external examiner for Coventry University.
Quality of life and well-being for older people, creativity and communication for people with dementia, visual methods in research, visual methods in research, critical artefacts.
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Teaching
Science, Technology and Arts
I am a Reader in Design and Creative Practice in Health and Co-Director of Lab4Living, an interdisciplinary research cluster at Sheffield Hallam University.
My research focuses on the role of design and creative practice in promoting wellbeing and quality of life. Within all aspects of my work I continue to be particularly inspired by older people and by people living with dementia and the remarkable stories they tell about their lives and much of my research focuses in this area.
I utilise design methods including artefacts, photography and art to build understanding of the experiences of individuals and then develop creative responses to these. These responses have manifested themselves in films, commercially available products and nationally commissioned interventions and have informed government guidelines (NICE 2008 and 2015, Alzheimer Scotland, 2018). I am author of 8 books and have written widely about the value of creative practice and design and health.
My research with older people has led to global collaborations with older people, colleagues in design and in healthcare. Current collaborations include Australia and New Zealand, Canada, Poland, the Netherlands, Denmark and Switzerland. I am part of an international think-tank on social inclusion and more locally I sit on the steering group of the Sheffield Action Alliance.
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Research
- Art and Design Research Centre
- Cultural Communication and Computing Research Institute
- Art and Design Research Centre
- Cultural Communication and Computing Research Institute
- Lab4Living
RSA Spinal Injury Design Workshops
EPSRC (2017) Content Creation and Consumption in the Digital Economy 880,000 (Co-applicant): Designing digital tools to support identity for people with dementia
ADRC Placing Ludic Artefacts in Care Environments (1850.00)
New Zealand Government: Catalyst fund: Design and Dementia: 80,000 NZ dollars (UK PI)
Marie Curie (2016) Design for Care: Redesigning Services for end of life care £500,000 (Co-I)
CLAHRC YH (2016-7) Designing a Dementia Friendly Eye Clinic £10,000
European Network of Occupational Therapists in Higher Education (2016) Developing an International Think Tank for Occupation Based Social Transformation (£2,000 euros)
NIHR HTA programme: Journeying through dementia: randomised controlled trial of clinical and cost effectiveness. £1,964,888 (co-I)
InTact: (2014-18) (Insights into telecare and health technologies) Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (Co-applicant) in collaboration University of Sheffield (National Institute of Health Research) £129,000.00
Exhibition in a Box (2014): Zhaw Institute, Zurich. HEA funded through National Teaching Fellowship, £3,000.00
Moving Stories (2013) Exploring the potential of art and film making to promote social inclusion for people with dementia (PI) £4,000 ADRC and Sheffield City Council.
ARTHOUSE (2011) : Using digital media and animation to explore the experiences of growing up and growing old in care. Engineering and Physical Science Research Council: £20,000 (PI)
Lifestyle Matters (2011-present): Randomised controlled trial. MRC Lifelong Health and Wellbeing: Total value £1,131,276.80 (Co-applicant), led by Sheffield University
European Life Long Learning grant (2011) for international curriculum development on creative approaches to social inclusion in occupational therapy (250,000 euros)
Engagingaging (2010): British Council’s PMI CONNECT programme (co-applicant) £30,000.00
Expert patient programme (2008): developing a self-management programme for people with dementia £10,000 (Co-applicant)
Well-Elderly study revisited (2004-6): Feasibility study: Health and Social Care Research Consortium: £50,000.00 (Co-applicant)
2015: Journeying through dementia: randomised controlled trial of clinical and cost effectiveness. NIHR HTA programme. £1,964,888 (Co-applicant)
InTact: (2014-18) (Insights into telecare and health technologies) Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (Co-applicant) in collaboration University of Sheffield (National Institute of Health Research) £129,000.00
Evidence based transformation CLARHC YH (2014-18) (co-applicant) in collaboration with University of Leeds, (National Institute of Health Research) £68,000.00
Exhibition in a Box (2014): Zhaw Institute, Zurich. HEA funded through National Teaching Fellowship, £3,000.00
Moving Stories (2013) Exploring the potential of art and film making to promote social inclusion for people with dementia (PI) £4,000 ADRC and Sheffield City Council.
ARTHOUSE (2011) : Using digital media and animation to explore the experiences of growing up and growing old in care. Engineering and Physical Science Research Council: £20,000 (PI)
Lifestyle Matters (2011-present): Randomised controlled trial. MRC Lifelong Health and Wellbeing: Total value £1,131,276.80 (Co-applicant), led by Sheffield University
Engagingaging (2010): British Council’s PMI CONNECT programme (co-applicant) £30,000.00
2008: European Life Long Learning grant for international curriculum development on creative approaches to social inclusion. Partners in Germany, Sweden, Heerlen and Amsterdam (250,000 euros)
Expert patient programme (2008): developing a self-management programme for people with dementia £10,000 (Co-applicant)
Well-Elderly study revisited (2004-6): Feasibility study: Health and Social Care Research Consortium: £50,000.00 (Co-applicant)
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Publications
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Other activities
External examiner Coventry University
Steering group, Sheffield Dementia Action AllianceI sit on the Research and Development Board for the Royal College of Occupational Therapists
I am visiting Professor, Occupational Therapy Hogeschool Zuyd, Netherlands
Visiting lecturer by invitation ZHAW, Zurich
Visiting Lecturer by invitation University of Malta
I am editor of the journal Design for Health
I am track chair for the Health and Design Track of the European Academy of Design conference
I am founder member and sit on the scientific committee for the International Design4Health Conference
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Media
Dr. Claire Craig is a Reader in design and creative practice in health and is Co-director of Lab4Living, an interdisciplinary research group which brings together designers, health care practitioners, engineers, psychologists with the aim of designing products, services and environments to improve the quality of life and well-being for individuals.
Claire's research focuses particularly on the role of the arts and creative practice in offering individuals living with dementia and their families an outlet for self-expression and a valued meaningful activity. She has written about this widely and her published books include: Creativity and Communication for people with dementia, Meaningful making, Celebrating the person and Creative Environments.