Andrew B. Wootton

Andrew B. Wootton is Professor of Human-Centred Design Innovation and Director of the Design Against Crime Solution Centre at the University of Salford.

An Industrial Designer with over two decades experience in design research, Andrew has delivered multiple UK and European-funded projects on Socially Responsible Design (SRD) and human-centred design in addressing problems of safety, security and wellbeing..

Andrew has published academic articles, book chapters and design guidelines on the role of design within crime prevention, and the use of holistic, human-centred design innovation to address problems relating to quality of life. He has delivered workshops on Design Against Crime and socially responsible design across Europe, and presented at international conferences and events.

Recent research projects include: Engage2innovate (E2i); Cutting Crime Impact (CCI); IcARUS; SecurePART; Planning Urban Security (PLuS) — led by the Landeskriminalamt Niedersachsen; City Centre Crime; National Police Crime Prevention Service (NPCPS); and Youth Design Against Crime (YDAC)— a programme to engage disadvantaged young people in crime prevention. Andrew was co-author of the EPSRC-funded Sustainable Urban Environments project, VivaCity 2020.

Andrew’s work remains fundamentally concerned with the value of human-centred design. His research interests are interdisciplinary, and include:
• Designamics – the integration of rigorous social science with dynamic, human-centred design thinking, research and practice to reframe problems and tackle complex societal challenges
• Socially responsible design – the use of design to address social issues and benefit society (www.sociallyresponsibledesign.org)
• Creativity and innovation in design and new product development (NPD) processes.

Andrew was the UK delegate to EU COST Action TU1203 Crime Prevention Though Urban Design and Planning (2013–16).

He is also a founding Director of ProtectED CIC (www.protect-ed.org) — a not-for-profit membership and accreditation scheme for UK higher education institutions, which aims to ensure the safety, security and wellbeing of university students.