Catherine Stones

Dr. Catherine Stones is an Associate Professor of Graphic Design at the School of Design, University of Leeds. Her expertise spans health communication, graphic design, visual communication, and illustration, with a focus on information design and participatory design. She collaborates with NHS staff, healthcare academics, and institutions like Glasgow School of Art and Eureka! Museum.

• Education: PhD in Design (University of Leeds), MA in IT (University of Lincolnshire and Humberside), BA Hons in Art History (University of Warwick)

Her research examines the intersection of design and healthcare, including pain pictograms, pain diagrams, and public health infographics. She authored visualisinghealth.com and led AHRC-funded projects like the £250k initiative to improve hand hygiene in schools. She supervises PhD students in health communication and graphic design.

Current projects include "Lifting the Lid on Bacteria" (designing ambient communications for school hygiene) and contributions to the AHRC's 'Seeing Data' advisory panel. She reviews for journals and conferences such as Design Studies and the International Information Visualisation Conference.

• Scientific Awards:
  • AHRC Design Fellowship Award

At the University of Leeds, she teaches information design, digital design, and visual communications, shaping first-year core content. She is a member of the AHRC Peer Review College and engages in global PhD supervision and research collaborations.