Ian Balmain Hewitt

Ian Balmain Hewitt is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Design for Industry at Northumbria University, Newcastle. He holds a BA(Hons) in Design Studies (1992) and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA, 2017). His work bridges academic research and industry collaboration, focusing on product design, medical device development, and educational technology. Hewitt leads the BA(Hons) Design for Industry program, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches and real-world industry partnerships.

His research interests include sustainable product design, ergonomic innovations, and design process methodologies. Notable projects include the PolyPhotonix Eye Mask (2010–2012), design work for NCR and Baxa medical devices, and the Fusion 360 build manual for educational use. He has secured research funding including £90,788 from the Technology Strategy Board for pre-media management services in FMCG sectors.

Hewitt has presented at conferences such as the Design Management Institute ADMC 2016 and maintains an active professional portfolio showcasing over 25 years of industrial design work. His contributions to design education include curriculum development and industry-oriented project supervision, fostering innovation in design pedagogy.