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Claire Craig

Professor Claire Craig

  • Helen Hamlyn Co-Chair of Design and Professor of Inclusive Design in Ageing

Claire is a qualified occupational therapist whose research and creative practice focuses on the role of design in promoting quality of life.

Claire’s research focuses on the role of design and creative practice in promoting wellbeing and quality of life throughout the life-course with a particular focus on ageing. 

Within all aspects of her work, she is inspired by older people and by people living with dementia and the remarkable stories they tell about their lives. 

Claire utilises design methods including object-elicitation, photography and creative practice to build understanding of the experiences of the individuals she works alongside. Taking these insights as starting points, she develops creative responses in partnership with people to address the challenges they face. These responses have manifested themselves in films, commercially available products and nationally commissioned interventions and have informed government guidelines (NICE 2008 and 2015, Alzheimer Scotland, 2018 and 2020). 

She has authored 8 books and has written widely about the value of creative practice and design and health.

Key details

School, Centre or Area

More information

2019

Canberra University, Australia Distinguished Visiting Scholar Award

2012

Royal College of Occupational Therapists: Fellowship:

2011

Higher Education Academy: National Teaching Fellowship

2010

Higher Education Academy Health Science Practice Award for Teaching and Learning

2010

ROMPA Quality of Life Award 

2010

Royal College of Occupational Therapists: Innovations award

In addition to her role at the RCA Claire is:

  • Professor of Design and Creative Practice in Health at Sheffield Hallam University
  • Visiting Professor, Northumbria University
  • Visiting Professor, Bradford University
  • Editor of the Design for Health Journal, published by Taylor and Francis
  • Fellow of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists

(Prior to beginning her post at the RCA)

  • Claire Trefla (2025) Dress and Identity in the Care Home: An institution and carer perspective
  • Marney Walker (2025) How can design support the expression of personal aesthetic preferences in dementia?
  • Heather Dunn (2021) Exploring the meaning of care in nursing care homes for older people.
  • Julie Walters (2019) Personal storytelling for wellbeing. Creative Digital media to explore Form, Content and Process.

Claire is interested in supervising PhD students across several areas including:

Inclusive design in ageing, Creative approaches to working with people living with dementia, research focusing on ageing and the role of design in supporting wellbeing, technological interventions in the context of people living with dementia.

Blackler, A., Craig, C., Brophy, C., & Kamali, F. (2023). Making a “home” into a home: How design of aged-care homes impacts residents. Journal of AgingStudies,65. 

http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaging.2023.101135

El Kamali, M., Angelini, L., Caon, M., Dulake, N., Chamberlain, P., Craig, C., ... Mugellini, E. (2023). Co-designing an Embodied e-Coach With Older Adults: The Tangible Coach Journey. International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction. http://doi.org/10.1080/10447318.2023.2171332

Beresford-Dent, J., Sprange, K., Mountain, G., Mason, C., Wright, J., Craig, C., & Birt, L. (2022). Embedding patient and public involvement in dementia research: Reflections from experiences during the ‘Journeying through Dementia’ randomised controlled trial. Dementia, 21 (6), 1987-2003. http://doi.org/10.1177/14713012221106816

Sterling, L., Pedell, S., & Craig, C. (2022). Editorial: Designing Technology for Emotions to Improve Mental Health and Wellbeing. Frontiers in Computer Science, 4. http://doi.org/10.3389/fcomp.2022.898839

Mountain, G., Wright, J., Cooper, C.L., Lee, E., Sprange, K., Beresford-Dent, J., ... Foster, A. (2022). An intervention to promote self-management, independence and self-efficacy in people with early-stage dementia: the Journeying through Dementia RCT. Health technology assessment (Winchester, England), 26 (24). http://doi.org/10.3310/KHHA0861

Langley, J., Kayes, N., Gwilt, I., Snellgrove-Clarke, E., Smith, S., & Craig, C. (2022). Exploring the value and role of creative practices in research co-production. Evidence & Policy: a journal of research, debate and practice, 18 (2). http://doi.org/10.1332/174426421X16478821515272

Mountain, G.A., Cooper, C.L., Wright, J., Walters, S.J., Lee, E., Craig, C., ... Young, E.L. (2022). The Journeying through Dementia psychosocial intervention versus usual care study: a single-blind, parallel group, phase 3 trial. The Lancet Healthy Longevity, 3 (4), e276-e285. http://doi.org/10.1016/S2666-7568(22)00059-9

Craig, C., & Christer, K. (2021). Editorial. Let’s work together. Design for Health, 1-2. http://doi.org/10.1080/24735132.2021.1987087

Nakarada-Kordic, I., Reay, S., Craig, C., Collier, G., Khoo, C., Fisher, H., & Kayes, N. (2021). Identifying challenges and co-imagining futures for a design for health network. Design for Health. http://doi.org/10.1080/24735132.2021.1984666

Craig, C., Wallace, J., Montague, K., Koulidou, N., Fisher, H., Carvalho, L., ... South, J. (2021). Development of an ethical roadmap. Design for Health, 5 (1), 140-160. http://doi.org/10.1080/24735132.2021.1908653

Craig, C., & Killick, J. (2021). A new picture book explores the landscape of dementia. Journal of Dementia Care, 29 (3).

Sprange, K., Mountain, G., & Craig, C. (2021). Evaluation of intervention fidelity of a complex psychosocial intervention Lifestyle Matters: a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open, 11 (4), e043478. http://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-043478

Broomfield, K., Craig, C., Smith, S., Jones, G., Judge, S., & Sage, K. (2021). Creativity in public involvement: Supporting authentic collaboration and inclusive research with seldom heard voices. Research Involvement and Engagement, 7 (1), 17. http://doi.org/10.1186/s40900-021-00260-7

Sprange, K., Beresford-Dent, J., Mountain, G., Craig, C., Mason, C., Berry, K., ... Cooper, C.L. (2021). Assessing fidelity of a community based psychosocial intervention for people with mild dementia within a large randomised controlled trial. BMC Geriatrics, 21 (1), 119. http://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-021-02070-8

Wallace, J., Duncan, T., Lawson, S., Trueman, J., Montague, K., Carvalho, L., ... Koulidou, K. (2020). Design research to support ongoingness. Bereavement Care, 39 (2), 88-92. http://doi.org/10.1080/02682621.2020.1771969

Abbey, E., Craig, C., & Mayland, C.R. (2020). General practitioners’ perceptions of compassionate communities: a qualitative study. BMC Palliative Care, 19 (1), 97. http://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-020-00597-y

Wright, J., Foster, A., Cooper, C., Sprange, K., Walters, S., Berry, K., ... Mountain, G. (2019). Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial assessing the clinical and cost-effectiveness of the Journeying through Dementia (JtD) intervention compared to usual care. BMJ Open, 9 (9), e029207. http://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-029207

Craig, C., Killick, J., & Standing, S. (2021). Discovering Dementia. Lab4Living, Sheffield Hallam University

Bruggen, H.V., Craig, C., Kantartzis, S., Laliberte Rudman, D., Pollard, N., Schiller, S., & Simo, S. (2020). Case Studies for Social Transformation Through Occupation. ENOTHE.

Craig, C., & Killick, J. (2013). Kreativitat und Kommunikation bei Menschen mit Demenz. Bern: Hans Huber.

Craig, C. (2013). Fototherapie : Kreative Fotoarbeiten mit Jugendlichen, Erwachsenen und alten Menschen. Bern: Hans Huber.

Craig, C., & Killick, J. (2012). Creativity and communication in persons with dementia : a practical guide. London: Jessica Kingsley.

Craig, C., & Hurtley, R. (2012). Reflections of hope : for people with dementia. Farnham: CWR.

Craig, C. (2009). Study skills for health and social care students. London: Sage.

Craig, C. (2009). Exploring the self through photography : activities for use in group work. London: Jessica Kingsley.

Craig, C., & Mountain, G. (2007). Lifestyle matters: an occupational approach to healthy ageing. Brackley: Speechmark.

Reay, S., Craig, C., Fisher, H., Khoo, C., Nakarada-Kordic, I., Collier, G., ... Zino, I. (2020). Little Red. [Pen and ink]. Phillips, M., Dulake, N., Willox, M., Gwilt, I., Craig, C., & Auton, K. (2015). Home health monitoring – EyKos HealthHub (product design concept). [Object]. http://www.activ8rlives.com/

Craig, C., Reay, S., Kayes, N., & Nakarada-Kordic, I. (2019). Initiate:Collaborate. [Tool kit]. https://www.initiate-collaborate.com/our-team Craig, C., Fisher, H., & Chamberlain, P. (2019). Life Cafe. https://www.lifecafe.org.uk/about Craig, C., & Fisher, H. (2019). Journeying Through Dementia.