about_donna jamieson
Design Researcher
I am currently a graduate Research Affiliate at the University Of Glasgow.
I graduated in 2024 from Glasgow School of Art’s MRes in Innovation and Technology, where I was awarded a DHI Studentship for my research on mindfulness and ADHD diagnosis in women.
On completion my thesis recieved commendations and minor corrections.
Opportunities to collaborate …
• design & brand research consulting
• UX design teaching
• research papers & publications
• design methods & visual probes
go lightly through, originally a social enterprise encouraging design-led environmental behaviour change, now serves as an archive of the design practice of Donna Jamieson.
30 years of art & design roles:
Design Research; Visual Communications; Branding; Design Team Manager; Creative Director; New Business; Innovation Workshop Co-Facilitator; Multimedia Designer and Coder; Design Department Start-Up; Production Manager; Design Competence Coach; Community Engagement; Design Educator; Charity Board Member.
Neurodiversity • Female Healthcare Data Equity • Mindfulness & Mental Health.
Neurodiversity: My research interests lie within the sphere of designing models of engagement with/for ND participants to collaborate. This seeks to create greater understanding of inclusion, acceptance and safety within the design space.
I initiated and delivered a peer-led ‘Neurodiversity at Work” Masterclass through “Making Work Work” programme & facilitated mindfulness-informed design workshops with ADHD Women.
Female Healthcare Data Equity: Developments in machine learning and health tracking have brought healthcare data to the fore. How we collect, label and prioritise data equitability is an area of keen interest to me, as is how we perhaps challenge foundational knowledges we encode.
My Masters introduced theories of mind/body and inter-being to understand how these philosophical lenses and praxes give shape to the data we collect.
Mindfulness: I am passionate about contributing to an understanding of Mindfulness beyond it’s use as a “calming” technology. This expanded view, enfolds Buddhist Ethics and frameworks of understanding the mind, mental health & wellbeing, everyday praxes & the design of digital future that seek to enhance individual and planetary well-being.
Within this domain, I have developed mindful tools for phenomenological inquiry, and raised funds to deliver community initiatives incl. Slow Stitch & Women On The Mend.
_research themes:
_background:
My Design story began over thirty years ago.
Fine art > design:
I trained in Fine Art, which the led to involvement in Community Arts project management. Here I developed a working knowledge of computers that piqued interest in their creative potential. I then taught myself 3D modelling, design and coding skills, eventually taking a role at The University of Plymouth as their digital communications designer.
Design > production:
As the digital industry grew in scale and complexity, my role evolved and I saw the need to create cross-disciplinary design methodologies and user research as an integral part of the strategic business design offering.
After several years as a Creative Team lead, I was invited to establish the User Experience Design department at Cap Gemini in London, overseeing creative pitches, people, processes and the practices involved in creating large-scale web & CRM solutions. The Client base boasted BT, Post Office, Santander, HSBC, British Steel, Playstation and many other British and international brands.
In 2003, I welcomed my daughter into the world and moved into part-time production manager and partner roles in agencies who specialised in the design of large-scale museum installations. During this time the team won a D&AD & an International Art Directors award for it’s digital interactive work @ London’s Science Museum and Japan’s International Design Expo.
Production > purpose:
On relocating to Glasgow, I took on mission driven roles in the third sector, working with charities and organisations with social aims such as the Govanhill Baths Trust, ApparelXchange and Zero Waste Scotland.
Purpose > academia:
In 2015, I began to teach on the Interaction Design programme at Glasgow School of Art, leading on interdisciplinary creative collaboration with first year students. In 2020 I applied for the GSA’s Masters of Research programme, which I undertook on a part-time basis, and wish to advance my study into a PhD in the future.