Helen Simmons

Research Focus & Expertise
Helen specialises in relational design for social innovation, with particular emphasis on fostering sustainable, just outcomes within grassroots and marginalised communities. Her work examines how strengthening relationships and neighbourhood connections can catalyse collective responses to community challenges, promoting wellbeing for all residents. Her participatory practice spans community-based design, digital and social inclusion, and innovation facilitation with enterprises, public-sector and third-sector partners, applied across sustainability, health and social care contexts.

Current and Recent Research
Helen's doctoral research is a place-based action enquiry in a neighbourhood of Newcastle upon Tyne (Shieldfield), investigating grassroots participatory social innovation. The work explores:

• Methods for building individual and community agency, confidence, and skills to address shared needs
• Applications of relationality, inclusivity, accessibility, and compassion in practice-based research
• How infrastructuring — spaces, roles, tools, languages, and practices — can enable meaningful community relationships and unlock collective creativity

Alongside her PhD, Helen's recent applied research includes:

• TEDI (Technology Enhanced Dementia Independence, 2026): co-designed and ran 20 'tech hub' sessions across Newcastle and North Tyneside, helping people living with dementia and their carers creatively explore technology, and supported the TEDI Lived Experience Panel
• TRUST (Transitioning Retrofit Users to Sustainable Technologies, 2025–2026): led participatory design of workshops and resources to support Gateshead residents transitioning to District Heating Networks, co-producing the project podcast and final report for Gateshead Council

Publications
Helen has co-authored eight peer-reviewed conference papers covering themes including design facilitation and collaboration, inclusive and responsible innovation, social design, design pedagogy and exhibitions. 

Funding
As Principal Investigator, Helen has secured £12,000 in awarded funding, including a Research England Enhancing Research Culture grant for podcasting (2022) and an LNER-funded MDI Design Sprint (2024). As Co-Investigator or named researcher, she has contributed to a further £50,695 in awarded grants, including EPSRC-funded work on district heating technology (£34,195, 2025) and two Northumbrian Water Group–funded innovation projects (2022).

Academic Leadership & Knowledge Exchange
Helen demonstrates strong commitment to bridging academic and public spheres through innovative knowledge-sharing initiatives:

• Co-produced (2022–2024) the School of Design podcast Designamite, which covered the research, teaching and practice of the School of Design
• Lead several initiatives exploring how exhibitions and shows can be utilised to stimulate conversations within new forms of publics 
• Founding member of the Responsible Innovation Hub (ReIn), creating spaces to explore how design can help handle disputes, navigate tensions and facilitate multidisciplinary co-creation

Teaching Philosophy
Helen advocates for pedagogical innovation through:

• Integration of new tech to accommodate diverse learning styles
• Experiential learning opportunities
• Cross-sector/multidisciplinary collaborations that prepare students to address contemporary global challenges

Recent Projects & Affiliations

• Co-founder and Senior Researcher: Responsible Innovation Hub (ReIn)
• Principal Investigator: Research Culture and Podcasting
• Senior Researcher: TRUST: Transitioning Retrofit Users to Sustainable Technologies
• Senior Researcher: Creative Fuse North East
• Senior Researcher: COST Action Multi-disciplinary innovation for social change
• Member: Responsible Design Innovation
• Member: nDESIS (Design for Social Innovation towards Sustainability)
• Member: Design Feminisms Research Group
• Member: Community for Innovation in Teaching and Education (CITE) – Creative Co-Enquiry Learning Circle
• Member: Urban Futures Interdisciplinary Research Group
• Member: Make/Do: Thinking Through Making and Doing
• Member: People, Technology and Experience Research Group
• Member: Vital Matters Sustainable Materials Futures Research Group
• Member: British Academy Early Career Researcher Network
• Member: AHRC Early Career Place Network
• Member: UK Participatory Design Network

Professional Engagement

• Helen also works as a Freelance Innovation and Strategy consultant and facilitator, largely supporting the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector
• Helen is a Board Member of Collective Impact Agency (2025–present), Trustee Steward of Dwellbeing Shieldfield (2022–present), and Trustee of Groundwork NE & Cumbria (2021–present)

Keywords
#Design #Communities #SocialInnovation #Relationality #Sustainability #Creativity #ParticipatoryResearch #SocialJustice #Place-based