Dr Camilo Soler Caicedo

I primarily teach for the BA programmes of Innovation Design, and Product & Furniture Design, with occasional lectures in the MA Sustainable Design.

Modules taught include:

• Materials and Making: Themes in Design History
• Critical Issues in Furniture & Product Design: Research & Practice
• Critical Issues in Interaction Design: Research & Practice
• Dissertation: Research & Reflection.

I have also been involved in the teaching historical and critical approaches applied to other areas such as media, the cultural and creative industries, digital economies, and international relations.

Qualifications

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)

Courses taught

• Product and Furniture Design BA (Hons)
• 3D Design Innovation BA (Hons)

I am currently developing expertise in my field towards the advancement of experience design in combination with social science and critical studies, particularly in the area of user experience design for sustainable futures. In 2021–2022, I was a post-doctoral research associate at the School of Design– Loughborough University, where I devised a methodology based on UX design and Design Personas (re-conceptualised as community personas) to facilitate process of community and future-building in the Colombian Andes. I designed and published an interactive website for the dissemination of results.

I am currently expanding my research on the use of arts, design and storytelling for social impact. Hence, I am currently preparing academic publications on the representation of the Latin American communities in mainstream media and its parallels to the experience of Latin American communities in London with a peer working on Urban Studies and gentrification; the use UX design and arts-based methods for future-building through digital engagement with colleagues in Design; and – derived from my doctoral research – the book project provisionally titled BIlongo: the Spell of Colombian Salsa on Global Markets.

Specialisms

• Experience Design
• Anthropology
• Storytelling
• Arts-based Methods
• Participatory Action Research

Scholarly affiliations

• Society for the Anthropology of Lowland South America (SALSA)

I have engaged with academic institutions in Colombia and Indonesia to transfer knowledge in Future-building and User-centred design.

Similarly, I have engaged in partnerships in the with artists, charities and the financial corporate sector in the UK to give consultancy or speak about topics such as community building, design for social innovation and Latin American arts and culture.

Areas of interest

• Global South

With Kingston University Enterprises Limited I have developed and delivered a workshop series on Design thinking for businesses funded by the UKSPF, aimed at training local businesses in User-centred design. The final outcomes involved developing 6 new services and 1-new-to-market service, improving productivity in the 6 businesses, engaging those 6 businesses in Knowledge Exchange and safeguarding 2 jobs. This training is currently being developed into a short course for executive education. 

I am currently developing a KTP in collaboration with industry partners to jointly deliver social innovation approaches based on user-centred design to support areas and communities undergoing urban renovation.

Please do get in touch if you are interested in partnering, or if you work in Urban Redevelopment and would benefit from Kingston University's expertise in Design for Social Innovation.

Professional and scholarly affiliations

• CLACSO