IN SESSION: Designing for the 8 Senses: Sensory Profiles, Personal Taste, and Tailored Experiences

We often hear about the five senses, but human perception is governed by at least eight distinct systems that shape how we feel, focus, and navigate the world.

In this IN SESSION talk, world-leading sensory processing expert and Distinguished Professor of Occupational Therapy Dr Winnie Dunn joins Special Projects' co-founders and RCA Design Thinking & Innovation Course Leaders, Clara Gaggero Westaway and Adrian Westaway to bridge the gap between sensory science and practical creation.

The panel will explore how understanding sensory profiles and the eight senses can inform human-centred design, examining why personal taste is neurologically wired, why algorithms struggle to bucket human preference, and how designers can move beyond basic accessibility to craft richer, more inclusive everyday experiences.

Dr Winnie Dunn

Dr. Dunn is Distinguished Professor of OT Education, University of Missouri. She is also a Certified Positive Psychology Coach.

She is known for studies about sensory processing in everyday life. She published more than 100 research articles, chapters and books, and speaks internationally about her work. She created the Sensory Profiles, which has been translated into dozens of languages. She received the Award of Merit, Eleanor Clark Slagle Lectureship, belongs to the Academy of Research and received the A. Jean Ayres research award.

She is honored for innovative and engaging teaching: Chancellor’s Excellence in Teaching Award, Kemper Teaching Fellowship and Chancellor’s Distinguished Professorship. She wrote a book for the public: Living Sensationally understanding your senses, which was featured in Time magazine, Cosmopolitan magazine, Canadian Public Radio and London Times newspaper. Living Sensationally received the Seal of Excellence from the Children of the New Earth magazine.

Recent work demonstrates the effectiveness of coaching and telehealth. She served on the Planning Committee for the interdisciplinary Planning Grant Collective sponsored by the American Occupational Therapy Foundation in 2026; they identified essential elements, curricular designs and a research agenda for coaching within occupational therapy. She served on the Academy for Behavior Change Board of Directors to foster quality research and practice in coaching.

Clara Gaggero Westaway

Design Thinking & Innovation in Practice Masterclass Co-Leader, Co-founder & Creative Director, Special Projects

Clara is an award-winning designer and inventor renowned for her human-centred approach to innovation. With a portfolio that includes collaborations with BBC, Google, and Samsung, her work has been exhibited at MoMA and the Design Museum London. As a Visiting Senior Lecturer at the Royal College of Art and a faculty member at Oxford University Said Business School, Clara is dedicated to creating hopeful, sustainable design solutions that enhance well-being and foster a healthy relationship with technology.

Adrian Westaway

Design Thinking & Innovation in Practice Masterclass Co-Leader, Co-founder & Director of Technology and Magic, Special Projects

Adrian is a visionary designer and inventor, uniquely blending technology and magic to create extraordinary experiences. His innovative contributions span high-profile projects with Sonos, BBC, Nokia, and Google AI. An influential thought leader, Adrian lectures at the Royal College of Art and the Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design. His commitment to sustainable design and creative innovation has earned him prestigious accolades, including a Fellowship at the Royal Commission of 1851 and membership in the Magic Circle.