Ian Gwilt

Ian Gwilt is a Research Professor in the Department of Design at UniSA Creative, University of South Australia. His work focuses on co-design methodologies, healthcare innovation, data visualization, and museum experience design. He has authored/co-authored numerous articles on topics such as human-robot interaction, sustainable energy practices, and participatory exhibition development. His research emphasizes translating complex data into tangible experiences and fostering stakeholder collaboration in complex systems.

Affiliations:

• UniSA Creative (Faculty/School)
• Department of Design
• MOD. (Museum of Discovery)
• Australian Research Centre for Interactive and Virtual Environments (IVE)

Research Interests:

Gwilt’s primary areas include co-design frameworks for healthcare systems, data physicalization, museum visitor engagement, and the application of visual communication in interdisciplinary research. He explores how design thinking can address challenges in sustainability, chronic disease management, and human-technology interaction.

Key Contributions:

• Developed protocols for wearable activity trackers in hospital settings through co-design.
• Authored influential work on graphical signage to reduce anxiety in human-robot collaboration.
• Co-created the “data souvenir” concept to bridge physical and digital museum experiences.
• Received the International Federation of Hospital Engineering Building Award 2018 for healthcare architecture analysis.

Grants & Projects:

His work is supported by grants such as the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF). Projects include developing patient experience toolkits and exploring midwifery practices through co-design.

Labs/Teams:

Active in MOD. (Museum of Discovery) and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams in healthcare, architecture, and digital innovation.