Overview

Merryn is a design, innovation and sustainability researcher and has embodied this role in various capacities within industry and academia over the last 12 years.

She is currently a post-doc researcher within the Exeter Centre for Circular Economy (ECCE). She works in the EPSRC consortium ‘Manufacturing Immortality’ investigating the design opportunities and Circular Economy implications of implementing self-healing materials within product development.

This position builds on her PhD research which was an AHRC funded research collaboration between Philips Lighting and University of Brighton exploring the integration of Emotionally Durable Design into the new product development process of consumer lighting.

Before academia, Merryn was a designer/maker and co-founded a studio collective developing eco-focused products and furniture, while also working with an innovation consultancy developing her skills in creative problem solving and innovation methodologies.

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Research

Research interests

• Design and sustainability
• Material innovation
• Value within a Circular Economy 

Research projects

Merryn is post-doc researcher on the project ‘Manufacturing Immortality’, which is an ESPRC funded, multidisciplinary research collaboration between seven UK universities - University of Bristol, University, Heriot-watt University, Lancaster University, University of Manchester, Northumbria University Newcastle and Sheffield Hallam University.

The aim of the project is to explore the development of bio-hybrid and synthetic self-healing materials. Each institution is adopts a different approach to this topic, with Exeter focusing on the design opportunities and environmental implications of manufacturing and designing with this technology

Merryn is also currently collaborating with PA Consulting on the development on new circular business models, with her particular focus being on understanding and defining value within circular systems.

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