Ian Gwilt

Prof Ian Gwilt

Research Professor of Design

School of Art and Design

College of Creative Arts, Design and Humanities

Available For Media Comment.

Academic/Researcher  Designer/Digital Artist
Ian Gwilt is a Professor of Design in UniSA: Creative, University of South Australia, Adelaide. His current areas of research include practice and theory in visual communication design in the context of healthcare and wellbeing, the development of novel information visualization techniques to facilitate the understanding of data for non-specialist audiences, and the design of hybrid environments and experiences; interactive installations, augmented reality artefacts and locations that shape the experience of public spaces.
He is also interested in how we can incorporate visual communication design practices into interdisciplinary research teams through the use of inclusive, co-design and participatory practices. He is currently undertaking original research into the design implications for automated futures (Industry 4.0) through the development of a visual/informatic interface to bridge the gap between people and robotic devices.
Originally from the UK he has lived and worked in Spain, New Zealand and Australia where he began to develop his research/practice around augmented reality and the graphical user interface as creative/cultural artefact (the subject of his PhD). Over 25 years he has shown interactive installations and digitally informed creative works in a number of international exhibitions and galleries, as well as writing academic texts on creative digital media and design research/practice. He was a Council Executive of the Design Research Society in the UK from 2014 to 2017.
Keywords: design research, visual communication design, interdisciplinary projects, information/data design, design in healthcare, co-design, mixed and augmented reality in creative practice, creative applications of 3d printing, data physicalisation.

Year Citation
2025 Szeto, K., Davis, A., Arnold, J., Gwilt, I., Forrest, A., Heyne, I., . . . Maher, C. (2025). Stepping toward implementation using co-design: development of hospital protocols and resources for using wearable activity trackers in a hospital service. Frontiers in Digital Health, 7(1520991), 1-14.
DOI
2025 Stoodley, C., McKellar, L., Fleet, J. A., Fereday, J., Steen, M., Ziaian, T., & Gwilt, I. (2025). Building Bonds: Pre and post evaluation of an education program for midwives to support the early mother-infant relationship. Nurse Education in Practice, 88(104513), 10 pages.
DOI
2025 Stoodley, C., McKellar, L., Fereday, J., Ziaian, T., Steen, M., & Gwilt, I. (2025). Exploring mothers' perspectives on the early mother-infant relationship to inform midwifery practice: A qualitative study. Midwifery, 140(104200), 9 pages.
DOI Scopus3 WoS2 Europe PMC2
2024 Carfora, N., Ferguson, B., Bailey, L., Gwilt, I., & Alford, K. (2024). A participatory approach to exhibition theme development. Museum Management and Curatorship, online, 1-18.
DOI Scopus4 WoS3
2024 Zhang, R., Peng, F., & Gwilt, I. (2024). Exploring the role of immersive technology in digitally representing contemporary crafts within hybrid museum exhibitions: a scoping review. Digital Creativity, 35(4), 355-377.
DOI
2023 Stoodley, C., McKellar, L., Ziaian, T., Steen, M., Fereday, J., & Gwilt, I. (2023). The role of midwives in supporting the development of the mother-infant relationship: a scoping review. BMC Psychology, 11(1), 14 pages.
DOI Scopus12 WoS10 Europe PMC7
2023 Wong, S., Davis, A., Selby, P. R., Khoo, R., Gwilt, I., Stocker, S. L., . . . Reuter, S. E. (2023). Application of user-centered co-design principles to address barriers in therapeutic drug monitoring.. Therapeutic drug monitoring, 45(3), 368-375.
DOI Scopus4 WoS4 Europe PMC5
2023 Braithwaite, F. A., Arnold, J., Davis, A., Gwilt, I., MacIntyre, E., Morris, S., . . . Stanton, T. R. (2023). Osteoarthritis consumers as co-researchers: identifying consumer insights to improve osteoarthritis management by co-designing translational research solutions. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 31(7), 944-953.
DOI Scopus6 WoS6 Europe PMC4
2023 Sharrad, K., Martini, C., Tai, A., Spurrier, N., Smith, R., Esterman, A., . . . Carson-Chahhoud, K. (2023). Mixed Reality Technology to Deliver Psychological Interventions to Adolescents With Asthma: Qualitative Study Using the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability. JMIR Human Factors, 10(e34629), e34629-1-e34629-12.
DOI Scopus2 WoS1
2023 Marlow, N., Eckert, M., Sharplin, G., Gwilt, I., & Carson-Chahhoud, K. (2023). Graphical User Interface Development for a Hospital-Based Predictive Risk Tool: Protocol for a Co-Design Study. Jmir Research Protocols, 12, 9 pages.
DOI
2023 Davis, A., Tuckey, M., Gwilt, I., & Wallace, N. (2023). Understanding co-design practice as a process of "welldoing". International Journal of Art & Design Education, 42(2), 278-293.
DOI Scopus6 WoS6
2023 Kakoschke, N., Cox, D. N., Ryan, J., Gwilt, I., Davis, A., Jansons, P., . . . Brinkworth, G. (2023). Disrupting future discounting: a commentary on an underutilised psychological approach for improving adherence to diet and physical activity interventions. Public health nutrition, 26(5), 1088-1093.
DOI Scopus7 WoS8 Europe PMC6
2023 McKellar, L., Steen, M., Charlick, S., Andrew, J., Altieri, B., & Gwilt, I. (2023). Yourtime: The development and pilot of a perinatal mental wellbeing digital tool using a co-design approach. Applied Nursing Research, 73(151714), 1-8.
DOI
2023 Chua, A., Gwilt, I., & Davis, A. (2023). A flexible third-place, design research enquiry during the pandemic. Design for Health, 7(2), 286-295.
DOI
2022 Eimontaite, I., Cameron, D., Rolph, J., Mokaram, S., Aitken, J. M., Gwilt, I., & Law, J. (2022). Dynamic graphical instructions result in improved attitudes and decreased task completion time in human-robot co-working: an experimental manufacturing study. Sustainability, 14(6), 1-19.
DOI
2022 Donovan, D., Furber, G., Cothren, A., Andrew, J., & Gwilt, I. (2022). Visualizing mental health: co-design for innovative mental health promotion prototypes through interdisciplinary collaboration between psychology professionals, communication design students and tertiary design educators. Design For Health, 6(2), 163-184.
DOI
2022 Laver, K., Davis, A., Gwilt, I., Dalistan, R., Lane, R., & Block, H. (2022). Self-assessment of the home environment to plan for successful ageing: report from a digital health co-design workshop. PLOS Digital Health, 1(7), 1-10.
DOI Scopus3 WoS3 Europe PMC3
2022 Langley, J., Kayes, N., Gwilt, I., Snelgrove Clarke, E., Smith, S., & Craig, C. (2022). Exploring the value and role of creative practices in research co-production. Evidence and Policy, 18(2), 193-205.
DOI Scopus18 WoS14
2021 Tay, B. S. J., Cox, D. N., Brinkworth, G. D., Davis, A., Edney, S. M., Gwilt, I., & Ryan, J. C. (2021). Co-design practices in diet and nutrition research: an integrative review. Nutrients, 13(10, article no. 3593), 1-22.
DOI Scopus34 WoS35 Europe PMC27
2021 Tay, B. S. J., Edney, S. M., Brinkworth, G. D., Cox, D. N., Wiggins, B., Davis, A., . . . Ryan, J. C. (2021). Co-design of a digital dietary intervention for adults at risk of type 2 diabetes. BMC Public Health, 21(2071), 1-12.
DOI Scopus24 WoS20 Europe PMC19
2021 Davis, A., Gwilt, I., Wallace, N., & Langley, J. (2021). Low-contact co-design: considering more flexible spatiotemporal models for the co-design workshop. Strategic Design Research Journal, 14(1), 124-137.
DOI Scopus51
2021 Wallace, N., Davis, A., & Gwilt, I. (2021). Wellbeing through participation: creativity and co-design as processes of "welldoing". NiTRO: Non Traditional Research Outcomes, 35, 1-6.
2021 Stoodley, C., McKellar, L., Ziaian, T., Steen, M., Gwilt, I., & Fereday, J. (2021). Using co-design to explore how midwives can support the emerging mother-infant relationship during the early postnatal period: Protocol for a mixed methods study. Jmir Research Protocols, 10(6), 12 pages.
DOI Scopus6 WoS6 Europe PMC5
2021 Sharrad, K., Kopsaftis, Z., Tai, A., Spurrier, N., Smith, R., Esterman, A., . . . Carson-Chahhoud, K. (2021). Mixed reality technology as a delivery mechanism for psychological intervention in adolescents with asthma: a qualitative protocol. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 20, [1]-[8].
DOI Scopus2 WoS1
2019 Eimontaite, I., Gwilt, I., Cameron, D., Aitken, J. M., Rolph, J., Mokaram, S., & Law, J. (2019). Language-free graphical signage improves human performance and reduces anxiety when working collaboratively with robots. International journal of advanced manufacturing technology, 100(1-4), 55-73.
DOI
2019 Sheard, L., Marsh, C., Mills, T., Peacock, R., Langley, J., Partridge, R., . . . Lawton, R. (2019). Using patient experience data to develop a patient experience toolkit to improve hospital care: a mixed-methods study. Health Services and Delivery Research, 7(36), 1-134.
DOI
2017 Petrelli, D., Marshall, M. T., O'Brien, S., McEntaggart, P., & Gwilt, I. (2017). Tangible data souvenirs as a bridge between a physical museum visit and online digital experience. Personal and ubiquitous computing, 21(2), 281-295.
DOI
2017 Dulake, N., & Gwilt, I. (2017). Flying with data: openness, forms and understanding. Design journal, 20(1), 3863-3872.
DOI
2017 Mokaram, S., Aitken, J. M., Martinez Hernandez, U., Eimontaite, I., Cameron, D., Rolph, J., . . . Law, J. (2017). A ROS-integrated API for the KUKA LBR iiwa collaborative robot. IFAC-PapersOnLine, 50(1), 15859-15864.
DOI
2011 Gwilt, I., & Williams, J. (2011). Framing futures for visual communication design research. Design principles and practices: an international journal—annual review, 5(5), 81-98.
DOI

Year Citation
2024 Clarke, T. J., Gwilt, I., Zucco, J., Mayer, W., & Smith, R. T. (2024). Superpowers in the metaverse: augmented reality enabled X-ray vision in immersive environments. In V. Geroimenko (Ed.), Source details - Title: Augmented and Virtual Reality in the Metaverse (pp. 283-309). Switzerland: Springer.
DOI
2024 Zabar, M., Peng, F., Davis, A., Kueh, C., & Gwilt, I. (2024). Co-design for sustainable youth mental health in Australia. In K. Niedderer (Ed.), Source details - Title: Design for Dementia, Mental Health and Wellbeing: Co-Design, Interventions and Policy (pp. 37-49). Routledge.
DOI
2022 Gwilt, I., & Davis, A. (2022). Making data: the next generation. In I. Gwilt (Ed.), Source details - Title: Making Data: Materializing Digital Information (pp. 239-246). UK: Bloomsbury Visual Arts.
DOI Scopus1
2022 Gwilt, I. (2022). Introduction - Making data: materializing digital information. In I. Gwilt (Ed.), Source details - Title: Making data: materializing digital information (pp. 1-6). UK: Bloomsbury Visual Arts.
DOI
2022 Gwilt, I., Davis, A., Mignone, J., Smith, R. T., & Chua, A. (2022). Augmenting environmental graphics in healthcare spaces. In E. Edmunds, & C. Vear (Eds.), Source details - Title: Augmented reality art: from an emerging technology to a novel creative medium (3rd ed. ed., pp. 191-208). Switzerland: Springer.
DOI
2022 Gwilt, I. (2022). Augmented reality graffiti and street art. In V. Geroimenko (Ed.), Source details - Title: Augmented reality art: from an emerging technology to a novel creative medium (pp. 283-295). Switzerland: Springer International Publishing.
DOI
2021 Langley, J., Wallace, N., Davis, A., Gwilt, I., Knowles, S., Partridge, R., . . . Ankeny, U. (2021). COVID co-design does not *HAVE* to be digital! Why 'which platform should we use?' should not be your first question. In O. Williams (Ed.), Source details - Title: COVID-19 and Co-production in Health and Social Care Research, Policy and Practice (pp. 85-95). UK: Policy Press.
Scopus11
2020 Gwilt, I., McEntaggart, P., Levick Parkin, M., & Wood, J. (2020). Enhancing museum visits through the creation of data visualisation to support the recording and sharing of experience. In S. Popple, A. Prescott, & D. H. Mutibwa (Eds.), Source details - Title: Communities, Archives and New Collaborative Practices (pp. 123-137). UK: Policy Press.
DOI Scopus1
2018 Eimontaite, I., Gwilt, I., Cameron, D., Aitken, J. M., Rolph, J., Mokaram, S., & Law, J. (2018). Dynamic graphical signage improves response time and decreases negative attitudes towards robots in human-robot co-working. In F. Ficuciello, F. Ruggiero, & A. Finzi (Eds.), Source details - Title: Human friendly robotics: 10th international workshop (pp. 139-149). Switzerland: Springer.
2017 Prendiville, A., Gwilt, I., & Mitchell, V. (2017). Making sense of data through service design: opportunities and reflections. In D. Sangiorgi, & A. Prendiville (Eds.), Source details - Title: Designing for service: key issues and new directions (pp. 225-236). London, UK: Bloomsbury Publishing.
2016 Eimontaite, I., Gwilt, I., Cameron, D., Aitken, J. M., Rolph, J., Mokaram, S., & Law, J. (2016). Assessing graphical robot aids for interactive co-working. In Source details - Title: Advances in ergonomics of manufacturing: managing the enterprise of the future (pp. 229-239). Switzerland: Springer.
DOI
2015 Gwilt, I. (2015). Big data - small world: materializing digital information for discourse and cognition. In D. Harrison (Ed.), Source details - Title: Handbook of research on digital media and creative technologies (pp. 33-46). Pennsylvania, US: IGI Global.
DOI
2014 Gwilt, I. (2014). Creatively augmenting the urban experience. In S. Novak (Ed.), Source details - Title: Manhattan phrase : 40.74279,-74.008981 to 40.728411,-73.975679 (pp. 34-38). New Zealand: Chartwell Trust.
2013 Craig, C., Gwilt, I., Langley, J., & Partridge, R. (2013). Thinking through design and rehabilitation. In P. Encarnação (Ed.), Event/exhibition information: 12th biennial European conference of the Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe, AAATE 2013, Vilamoura, Portugal, 19/09/2013-22/09/2013
Source details - Title: Assistive technology: from research to practice (pp. 798-803). Netherlands: IOS Press.
DOI
2013 Gwilt, I. (2013). Data-objects: sharing the attributes and properties of digital and material culture to creatively interpret complex information. In D. Harrison (Ed.), Source details - Title: Digital media and technologies for virtual artistic spaces (pp. 14-26). US: Information Science Reference.
DOI
2012 Gwilt, I. (2012). Augmenting the white cube. In L. Candy, & E. Edmonds (Eds.), Source details - Title: Interacting: art, research and the creative practitioner (1 ed., pp. 257-267). UK: Libri Publishing.
2009 Gwilt, I. (2009). Graphical user interface in art. In B. Furht (Ed.), Source details - Title: Handbook of multimedia for digital entertainment and arts (pp. 617-622). US: Springer.
DOI
2009 Gwilt, I. (2009). Augmented reality and mobile art. In B. Furht (Ed.), Source details - Title: Handbook of multimedia for digital entertainment and arts (pp. 593-599). US: Springer Science + Business Media.
DOI

Year Citation
2022 Davis, A., Wallace, N., Gwilt, I., & Tuckey, M. R. (2022). Valuing Processes and Outcomes: A framework for planning co-design in complex systems of health design. In ARCH22 ‘Enabling health, care and well-being through design research' 5th Architecture Research Care and Health conference (pp. 1-8). US: TU Delft Open.
DOI
2022 Rui, Z., Peng, F., & Gwilt, I. (2022). Immersive technologies for improving visitors' digital experience in contemporary crafts exhibitions. In 2022 ACUADS Conference: Public Pedagogy: Forms of togetherness (pp. 1-18). Australia: Australian Council of University Art and Design Schools.
2021 Davis, A., & Gwilt, I. (2021). Insight: a co-design approach to understanding energy on a university campus. In 14th International Conference of the European Academy of Design: Safe Harbours for Design Research (pp. 338-349). Brazil: Blucher.
DOI
2020 Gwilt, I., & Davis, A. (2020). Revealing the hidden: using a co-design approach to explore on campus energy use through the representation of consumption data. In J. F. Boujut (Ed.), Proceedings of The Sixth International Conference on Design Creativity 2020 (pp. 133-143). UK: The Design Society.
DOI Scopus3
2019 Davis, A., Gwilt, I., & Andrew, J. (2019). Match Studio together in the wild: from dialectic contestation to dialogic collaboration. In J. Hakkila (Ed.), Around the Campfire: Resilience and Intelligence: Cumulus Conference Proceedings (pp. 361-375). Finland: University of Lapland.
2018 Gwilt, I., Rolph, J., Eimontaite, I., Cameron, D., Aitken, J. M., Mokaram, S., & Law, J. (2018). Cobotics developing a visual language for human-robotic collaborations. In C. Brunet (Ed.), Cumulus Conference Proceedings Paris 2018 - To get there: designing together (pp. 106-127). Finland: Cumulus Association.
2018 Harland, R. G., Corazzo, J., Gwilt, I., Honnor, A., & Rigley, S. (2018). Graphic design research: a cause for the concerned. In C. Storni (Ed.), Proceedings of DRS 2018: Catalyst (pp. 2811-2821). UK: Design Research Society.
DOI
2018 Gwilt, I., Partridge, R., Peacock, R., Marsh, C., Sheard, L. B., Lawton, R., & Langley, J. (2018). 'Using co-design workshops to develop a ward-level patient experience improvement toolkit'. In K. Seemann, & D. Barron (Eds.), Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Design 4Health (pp. 95-98). UK: Sheffield Hallam University.
2018 Eimontaite, I., Gwilt, I., Cameron, D., Aitken, J. M., Rolph, J., Mokaram, S., & Law, J. (2018). Graphical signage decreases negative attitudes towards robots and robot anxiety in human-robot co-working. In UK-RAS Conference: 'Robots Working For & Among Us' Proceedings Vol. 1 (pp. 83-86). UK: UK-RAS Network.
DOI
2018 Partridge, R., Langley, J., & Gwilt, I. (2018). Design, behaviour change and long term conditions: the impact of demonstrating design skills to adolescents with chronic pain. In K. Christer, C. Craig, & D. Wolstenholme (Eds.), Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Design4Health Vol. 2 (pp. 118-126). UK: Lab4Living.
2018 Langley, J., Wolstenholme, D., Partridge, R., & Gwilt, I. (2018). Using knowledge mobilisation theory to inform the design of a co-design workshop for healthcare research and innovation. In K. Seemann, & D. Barron (Eds.), Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Design 4Health (pp. 334-336). UK: Sheffield Hallam University.
DOI
2017 Gwilt, I., Langley, J., Partridge, R., Davis, S., Woodward, L., & Spooner, A. (2017). Pain talking: exploring the experience, expression and description of chronic pain through creative processes and visualisation strategies. In C. Kung, E. Lam, & Y. Lee (Eds.), Cumulus Working Papers 33/16: Cumulus Hong Kong 2016 – Open Design for E-very-thing (pp. 225-229). Hong Kong: Hong Kong Design Institute.
2015 Yoxall, A., Gwilt, I., & Drew, L. (2015). Augmented packaging for improved medicine compliance. In Proceedings of the Third European Conference on Design4Health 2015 (pp. 1-9). UK: Sheffield Hallam University.
2014 Langley, J., Craig, C., Gwilt, I., Chamberlain, P., Bateman, R., & Partridge, R. (2014). Applying inclusive design principles to improve self-management in Spinal Cord Injury. In A. Yoxall, & K. Christer (Eds.), Proceedings of the 2nd European Conference on Design 4 Health 2013 (pp. 144-154). UK: Sheffield Hallam University.
2013 Gwilt, I., O'Dubhghaill, C., Sano, K., & Nagai, Y. (2013). DataBronze: the influence of material choices on the understanding of information represented as a physical object. In 5th International Congress of International Association of Societies of Design Research (IASDR) (pp. 1-8). Japan: Chiba University.
2013 Gwilt, I., O'Dubhghaill, C., & Sano, K. (2013). Data-objects: databronze. In J. Wallace, J. Yee, & A. Durrant (Eds.), Praxis + Poetics: Research Through Design 2013 Conference Proceedings (pp. 7-10). UK: Northumbria University.
2012 Gwilt, I., Yoxall, A., & Sano, K. (2012). Enhancing the understanding of statistical data through the creation of physical objects. In A. Duffy, Y. Nagai, & T. Taura (Eds.), DS 73-1 Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Design Creativity Vol. 1 (pp. 117-124). UK: Design Society.
2012 Williams, J., & Gwilt, I. (2012). Beyond the logo: the yield of visual communication design in trans-disciplinary design research. In A. Korzenska, & E. Satalecka (Eds.), Research in graphic design. Graphic design in research (pp. 73-91). Poland: Academy of Fine Arts, Katowice.
2011 Nagai, Y., Georgiev, V. G., & Gwilt, I. (2011). A case study of open-ended creative practice based research. In A. Chakrabarti (Ed.), Research into design: supporting sustainable product development (pp. 599-606). India: Research Publishing.
2010 Gwilt, I. (2010). Compumorphic art: the computer as muse. In S. Baker, & P. Thomas (Eds.), New Imaging: Transdisciplinary strategies for art beyond the new media: conference proceedings (pp. 72-76). Australia: Published by Transdisciplinary Imaging Conference.
2010 Gwilt, I., Georgiev, G. V., & Nagai, Y. (2010). Fabrications of natural and artificial: a case study of enhancing users' impressions. In T. Taura, & Y. Nagai (Eds.), DS 66-2: Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Design Creativity (ICDC 2010) (pp. 1-6). UK: Design Society.

  • Minda community engagement and master plan, Minda Incorporated, 29/02/2024 - 31/12/2026

  • Reviewing CDR User Requirements, Department of the Treasury, 07/03/2025 - 30/12/2025

  • Future of Health Museum: A 2024 World Health Day Exhibition, World Health Organisation, 30/11/2023 - 15/12/2025

  • Co-design for future discounting app, CSIRO Australia, 20/10/2023 - 31/03/2025

  • QuantX - Quantum Clock 19' Rack Facia, QuantX Labs Pty Ltd, 17/10/2024 - 31/10/2024

  • Independent Health Check (Dark Patterns), Department of the Treasury, 02/02/2024 - 30/06/2024

  • SAPOL - Road Safety Project - Communicating Road Safety, South Australian Police, 17/07/2023 - 31/03/2024

  • Theo Murphy Initiative Think Tank: A co-design exploration of academic recognition, Australian Academy of Science, 31/03/2021 - 31/03/2022

  • Co-design of a user-focussed prototype intervention, CSIRO Australia, 25/05/2020 - 31/08/2021

  • Audit South Australia’s current housing assets and map future demand, Australian Housing & Urban Research Institute, 17/09/2018 - 28/11/2018

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2025 Co-Supervisor - Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Alice Farmer
2023 Co-Supervisor - Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Philip Williams
2023 Principal Supervisor - Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Agarrid Mahdi
2022 Principal Supervisor - Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Richie Khoo
2022 Co-Supervisor - Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Arezou Alipour
2020 Co-Supervisor - Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Cathy Louise Stoodley
2019 Co-Supervisor Design, creativity and zen Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Nigel Roger Black
2019 Principal Supervisor - Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Lorraine Joy Marchioro
2019 Principal Supervisor - Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Simon Modra
2018 Principal Supervisor - Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Darren Taljaard

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