Dr Sara Nevay

BESiDE (Built Environment for Social Inclusion through the Digital Economy)

Sara was a Research Associate with BESiDE Research (RCUK Lifelong Health and Wellbeing Programme grant number EP/K037293/1) between 2013 and 2015, working with Co-I Dr Chris Lim (DJCAD, University of Dundee) to co-design wearable artefacts with care home residents to improve physical and social wellbeing. This role identified wider challenges in later life such as loneliness and identity, which informed the ‘E-textile Connections’ PhD project, funded by an ESPRC Doctoral Training Grant (2015), written by Sara and Chris as primary Supervisor.

Crafting Connections

Sara explores traditional and e-textile crafting to support and investigate wellbeing factors with Dr Lucy Robertson (Norwich University of the Arts), through craft workshops hosted across Scotland in venues including DCA Dundee and MOMA Edinburgh, and conferences such as RTD 2019.

E-textile Connections: Catalysts for Social Connectedness and Challenging Loneliness in Later Life

Sara’s doctoral thesis explored the social experience of loneliness in later life, working with local older people to create tactile and sound-making e-textile prototypes - including the Dundee Conversation Quilt and Soft Sound Spheres – as catalysts for social interaction and connection. The prototypes have been exhibited at venues including V&A London (EVA: Digital Futures event 2018) and V&A Dundee (Rank Festival of Celebration, 2018).

Ongoing

Sara's research interests are in design for improved health and wellbeing. She is particularly interested in the design of soft products that aid and support social interaction, participation and digital inclusion and she welcomes discussions and/or research collaborations in these areas.

Sara is a Lecturer in Product Design, leading modules in Social Digital Level 1 and Level 3 Product Design. Sara also lectures in Level 3 contextual studies on the Communication Futures module.