
Overview
Background
Dr Cara Wrigley is currently Professor of Design within the Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology at The University of Queensland. Prior to this appointment she was the Jericho Chair of Design Innovation at The University of Sydney, leading an interdisciplinary research group sponsored by the Royal Australian Air Force. This multi-million-dollar engagement brought together the Australian Defence Force and world-leading researchers to investigate the role that design plays in the creation of disruptive technologies for military capability.
During her time at the University of Sydney Professor Wrigley established the Defence by Design Group, where she ran applied research projects in the military domain. This collaboration contributed to the theoretical development of ‘military design thinking’ that has been taught and applied widely throughout the Australian Defence Force. In 2018, she also established and directed the Design Innovation Research Group, leading a research team that focused on design-led exploratory research, conducting applied and theoretical research into people, emotions, strategy and business.
Professor Wrigley holds extensive experience in curriculum development and delivery, during her time at the University of Sydney she developed and delivered a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on Design Innovation (2018), rolled out a university wide Design Major (2018) and launched the Master of Design Innovation and Strategic Design (2019) program. This new degree has been reported on in the Book ‘Design Thinking Pedagogy: Facilitating Innovation and Impact in Tertiary Education’ by Routledge published in 2022.
Professor Wrigley has secured over $60M in competitive industry and government grants and is currently Chief Investigator on ARC Discovery and Linkage projects as well as a Medical Research Future Fund. Her research projects have received funding from industry partners such as the Brisbane Airport Corporation, Suncorp Insurance Australia, TAFE NSW, WaterCo Ltd, Bank of Queensland, BiVACOR and the Royal Australian Airforce. She is a reviewer for the Australian Research Council (ARC) and provides advice to organisations and their executives from diverse industries. For this work she has received Australian Good Design Awards.
Professor Wrigley has published extensively on the application and adoption of design disseminated through seven (7) books. Including the Research Handbook on Design Thinking (2023), Design Innovation and Integration (2021), Design Innovation for Health and Medicine (2020) and Affected: Emotionally Engaging Customers in the Digital Age (2018). She has more than 100 refereed research papers in outlets such Design Issues, Journal of Cleaner Production, Energy Policy, California Management Review, ASAIO Journal, and Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. She is currently the Editor-in-Chief of the leading design research journal Design Studies published by Elsevier.
Professor Wrigley has delivered invited keynotes at prestigious global academic conferences in the medical field including the European Mechanical Circulatory Support Summit (EUMS) Conference (2019, Vienna), the American Society of Artificial Internal Organs (ASAIO) 65th Annual Conference (San Francisco (2019) and the Asia-Pacific Extracorporeal Life Support Organisation (APELSO) Conference (2018). Furthermore, she is a regular invited speaker at the Australian Defence College and the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra for her work in Defence.
She is passionate about providing positive student and supervisor experiences and has presented at a number of universities on the topic of academic development and PhD supervision. She has advised a number of colleagues and high degree students on how to develop efficient and successful ways of collaboration, building professional networks and working with industry partners.
Availability
- Professor Cara Wrigley is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, Queensland University of Technology
Research interests
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Design Innovation
Design innovation is a field of research that explores the intersection of design and innovation processes. It encompasses the study of methodologies, frameworks, and approaches to facilitate the generation and implementation of novel and transformative design solutions. This interdisciplinary field draws upon principles from design thinking, human-centered design, and innovation management. Researchers in this field investigate various aspects, including user-centered needs assessment, ideation techniques, prototyping methods, and user testing strategies. The overarching goal is to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of design processes, ultimately leading to the creation of innovative products, services, and systems that address societal, economic, and environmental challenges. Design innovation research serves as a catalyst for advancing knowledge, fostering creativity, and promoting sustainable and inclusive design practices.
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Design Thinking
Design thinking focuses on the systematic and human-centred approach to problem-solving and innovation. It explores the cognitive processes, methodologies, and strategies employed by designers to address complex problems and create user-centred solutions. Through interdisciplinary investigations, researchers in this field examine the stages of design thinking, including empathising with users, defining problem statements, ideating alternative solutions, prototyping, and testing. They explore the application of design thinking in diverse contexts, such as product design, service design, and organisational innovation. By analysing the cognitive and behavioural aspects of design thinking, we can aim to advance theoretical understanding, refine methodologies, and identify best practices for fostering creativity, collaboration, and user-centric innovation.
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Emotional Design
Emotional design delves into the study of the profound relationship between design and human emotions. It explores how design elements, aesthetics, and functionality can evoke and influence emotional responses in users. Researchers in this field investigate the cognitive and affective processes involved in emotional design, examining how emotions shape user experiences and product perceptions. They explore the application of emotional design across various domains, such as product design, interactive interfaces, and environmental design. The goal of this research is to understand and leverage the impact of emotions on design outcomes, enabling the creation of more meaningful, engaging, and user-centric designs that resonate with individuals on an emotional level.
Works
Search Professor Cara Wrigley’s works on UQ eSpace
2020
Journal Article
Business model innovation by design: a review of design's role in business model innovation
Bryant, Scott T., Straker, Karla and Wrigley, Cara (2020). Business model innovation by design: a review of design's role in business model innovation. International Journal of Design Creativity and Innovation, 8 (2), 125-140. doi: 10.1080/21650349.2020.1717997
2020
Journal Article
Implementing design thinking: understanding organizational conditions
Wrigley, Cara, Nusem, Erez and Straker, Karla (2020). Implementing design thinking: understanding organizational conditions. California Management Review, 62 (2), 125-143. doi: 10.1177/0008125619897606
2020
Book
Design innovation for health and medicine
Nusem, Erez, Straker, Karla and Wrigley, Cara (2020). Design innovation for health and medicine. Singapore: Palgrave Macmillan. doi: 10.1007/978-981-15-4362-3
2019
Journal Article
Human factors and user experience issues with ventricular assist device wearable components: a systematic review
Dunn, Jessica Lea, Nusem, Erez, Straker, Karla, Gregory, Shaun and Wrigley, Cara (2019). Human factors and user experience issues with ventricular assist device wearable components: a systematic review. Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 47 (12), 2431-2488. doi: 10.1007/s10439-019-02303-3
2019
Conference Publication
Exploring the role of design in the context of medical device innovation
Ko, Keum Hee Kimmi, Dunn, Jessica Lea, Lahoud, David, Nusem, Erez, Straker, Karla and Wrigley, Cara (2019). Exploring the role of design in the context of medical device innovation. Academy for Design Innovation Management Conference 2019, London, United Kingdom, 18-21 June 2019. London, United Kingdom: Academy for Design Innovation Management. doi: 10.33114/adim.2019.03.303
2019
Conference Publication
Exploring the role of design in the context of medical device innovation
Ko, Keum Hee Kimmi, Dunn, Jessica Lea, Lahoud, David, Nusem, Erez, Straker, Karla and Wrigley, Cara (2019). Exploring the role of design in the context of medical device innovation. Academy for Design Innovation Management Conference 2019, London, United Kingdom, 18-21 June 2019. London, United Kingdom: Academy for Design Innovation Management.
2019
Journal Article
A comparative content analysis of digital channels for ventricular assist device patients, caregivers, and healthcare practitioners
Ko, Keum Hee Kimmi, Dunn, Jessica Lea, Straker, Karla, Nusem, Erez, Gregory, Shaun and Wrigley, Cara (2019). A comparative content analysis of digital channels for ventricular assist device patients, caregivers, and healthcare practitioners. ASAIO Journal, 65 (8), 855-863. doi: 10.1097/mat.0000000000000924
2019
Journal Article
Identifying a set of line manager personas to guide new product introduction strategy
Straker, Karla, Mosely, Genevieve and Wrigley, Cara (2019). Identifying a set of line manager personas to guide new product introduction strategy. Strategy and Leadership, 47 (4), 34-42. doi: 10.1108/sl-04-2019-0064
2019
Journal Article
The discourses of power - governmental approaches to business models in the renewable energy transition
Bryant, Scott T., Straker, Karla and Wrigley, Cara (2019). The discourses of power - governmental approaches to business models in the renewable energy transition. Energy Policy, 130, 41-59. doi: 10.1016/j.enpol.2019.03.050
2019
Journal Article
Navigating market opportunity: traditional market research and deep customer insight methods
Garrett, Alexander and Wrigley, Cara (2019). Navigating market opportunity: traditional market research and deep customer insight methods. Qualitative Market Research, 22 (3), 456-471. doi: 10.1108/qmr-05-2017-0091
2019
Journal Article
Toward design orientation and integration: driving design from awareness to action
Nusem, Erez, Matthews, Judy and Wrigley, Cara (2019). Toward design orientation and integration: driving design from awareness to action. Design Issues, 35 (3), 35-49. doi: 10.1162/desi_a_00548
2019
Journal Article
A wolf in sheep’s clothing: Design by any other name
Wrigley, Cara (2019). A wolf in sheep’s clothing: Design by any other name. Journal of Design, Business and Society, 5 (1), 3-5. doi: 10.1386/dbs.5.1.3_2
2019
Journal Article
Broadening design-led education horizons: conceptual insights and future research directions
Wright, Natalie and Wrigley, Cara (2019). Broadening design-led education horizons: conceptual insights and future research directions. International Journal of Technology and Design Education, 29 (1), 1-23. doi: 10.1007/s10798-017-9429-9
2018
Journal Article
The typologies of power: Energy utility business models in an increasingly renewable sector
Bryant, Scott T., Straker, Karla and Wrigley, Cara (2018). The typologies of power: Energy utility business models in an increasingly renewable sector. Journal of Cleaner Production, 195, 1032-1046. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.05.233
2018
Journal Article
Design thinking education: a comparison of massive open online courses
Wrigley, Cara, Mosely, Genevieve and Tomitsch, Martin (2018). Design thinking education: a comparison of massive open online courses. She Ji, 4 (3), 275-292. doi: 10.1016/j.sheji.2018.06.002
2018
Conference Publication
Cascading mentorship: designing a support tool for patients with ventricular assist devices
Etherington, Mackenzie Norman, University of Sydney, Ko, Keum Hee Kimmi, Dunn, Jessica Lea, Straker, Karla, Nusem, Erez, Wrigley, Cara and Gregory, Shaun (2018). Cascading mentorship: designing a support tool for patients with ventricular assist devices. DRS2018, Limerick, Ireland, 25-28 June 2018. London, United Kingdom: Design Research Society. doi: 10.21606/drs.2018.692
2018
Conference Publication
The interconnected process of design and science: a method for mapping concepts and knowledge
Azzam, Carol, The University of Sydney, Straker, Karla and Wrigley, Cara (2018). The interconnected process of design and science: a method for mapping concepts and knowledge. DRS2018, Limerick, Ireland, 25-28 June 2018. London, United Kingdom: Design Research Society. doi: 10.21606/drs.2018.637
2018
Conference Publication
Building relationships and sustaining dialogue between patients, caregivers and healthcare practitioners: a design evaluation of digital platforms for ventricular assist device users
Dunn, Jessica Lea, Ko, Keum Hee Kimmi, Nusem, Erez, Straker, Karla, Wrigley, Cara and Gregory, Shaun (2018). Building relationships and sustaining dialogue between patients, caregivers and healthcare practitioners: a design evaluation of digital platforms for ventricular assist device users. DRS2018, Limerick, Ireland, 25-28 June 2018. London, United Kingdom: Design Research Society. doi: 10.21606/drs.2018.639
2018
Journal Article
Action researcher to design innovation catalyst: Building design capability from within
Price, Rebecca, Wrigley, Cara and Matthews, Judy (2018). Action researcher to design innovation catalyst: Building design capability from within. Action Research, 19 (2), 318-337. doi: 10.1177/1476750318781221
2018
Journal Article
Three narrative techniques for engagement and action in design-led innovation
Price, Rebecca, Matthews, Judy and Wrigley, Cara (2018). Three narrative techniques for engagement and action in design-led innovation. She Ji, 4 (2), 186-201. doi: 10.1016/j.sheji.2018.04.001
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Cara Wrigley is:
- Available for supervision
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Available projects
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Design Methodologies for Burdened Users
This Earmarked Scholarship project is aligned with a recently awarded Category 1 research grant. It offers you the opportunity to work with leading researchers and contribute to large projects of national significance.
We are seeking an enthusiastic PhD student to conduct a research project about incorporating emotional affect into safety-critical products. The work will characterise existing user-centred design and interaction design methodologies, identify key barriers to reconciling often diverging requirements, and propose new processes for overcoming these obstacles.
Some users across healthcare, transport, manufacturing, logistics, and emergency service environments, are compelled to use safety-critical controller products, over which they have little or no choice, to perform high-risk tasks. These users are burdened with significant responsibilities, and increased stress.
The design of safety-critical controllers is usually driven by risk-mitigation and usability principles as demanded by regulatory requirements and quality standards. However, product development often overlooks the day-to-day experience of the human tasked with critical duties, including their emotions, attitudes, and motivations. Your project will develop evidence to support new ways of accommodating these ill-defined factors into a robust design process.
This is an exciting opportunity to work with industry partner BiVACOR Pty. Ltd., researchers across several institutes, and to contextualise your research in the development of Total Artificial Heart (TAH) devices. Patients who use TAH products are faced with critical product interactions every day. The scholarship is part of ARC LP LP200100336 “Design Guidelines for Safety-critical Controllers in High-risk Environments”.
This position is located at our picturesque St Lucia campus, renowned as one of Australia’s most attractive university campuses, and located just 7km from Brisbane’s city centre. Bounded by the Brisbane River on three sides, and with outstanding public transport connections, our 114-hectare site provides a perfect work environment – you can enjoy the best of both worlds: a vibrant campus with the tradition of an established university.
Research Experience and expectations
Research experience and expectations include, but are not limited to:
Scholarship value
As a scholarship recipient, you'll receive:
- Conducting qualitative data collection and analysis
- Conducting content analysis on secondary data sets
- Conducting interviews with patients, caregivers and medical practitioners.
- living stipend of $28,854 per annum tax free (2022 rate), indexed annually
- tuition fees covered
- single Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Cognitive affordance of epistemic devices
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Tim Kastelle
Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
The shifting and evolving practice of design: (Re)conceptualising design facilitation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jason Lodge
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
The Five Classes of Support: Designing Digital Engagement to Address the Needs of Ventricular Assist Device Stakeholders
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Karla Straker
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Cara Wrigley directly for media enquiries about:
- Design
- Industrial Design
- Innovation
- Military Design
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