Karey Helms

Karey Helms is an Associate Professor of Design at the Umeå Institute of Design (UID), part of Umeå University, and a Digital Futures Postdoctoral Fellow at Stockholm University. She holds a BS in Architecture from the University of Virginia, a MFA in Interaction Design from UID, and a PhD in Interaction Design from KTH Royal Institute of Technology.

Her research explores technology's role in non-traditional contexts such as care settings, outdoor environments, and bodily interactions. Key interests include regenerative material ecologies, ethical design for bodily fluids, and more-than-human design principles. She critiques how technology entangles with nondigital matter, advocating for responsible design that addresses bodily needs and environmental ethics.

Her recent publications (2017–2025) focus on HCI, material interactions, and ethical frameworks for emerging technologies. Representative works include studies on 'leaky objects' in design, 'careful design' methodologies, and speculative ethics for bodily fluid interfaces.

She has received the Digital Futures Postdoctoral Fellowship, supporting her interdisciplinary work at Stockholm University. While no specific grants or advising details are provided, her prior industry experience in IoT design informs her academic practice.