Professor Kristina Niedderer

Professor of Design

Professor Kristina Niedderer (Ph.D., MA [RCA]) is Professor of Design, and Professorial Research lead for Design at Manchester Metropolitan University where she joined in November 2018. Kristina was originally apprenticed and worked as a goldsmith and silversmith in Germany. She then trained as a designer and design researcher in the United Kingdom. Previously, she worked at the University of Hertfordshire (2005-7) and at the University of Wolverhampton (2007-18), first as a Reader and then as Professor of Design and Craft. She is recognised for her work on mindfulness in design for behaviour change with application health and sustainability. She is also known for building the field of craft research through founding the journal of Craft Research in 2008.

Kristina's research focuses on the role of design to engender mindful interaction and behaviour change. She currently leads the European project 'IDoService' (2020-2022), which aims to develop a service with and for people with early stage dementia to enable them actively participate in and contribute to society to support their wellbeing. Prior to this, Kristina lead the European Project MinD 'Designing for people with dementia: designing for mindful self-empowerment and social engagement' (2016-2020). Utilising the concept of mindful design, the project investigates innovative design solutions to enable self-empowerment and confidence building of people living with dementia.

In 2014, Kristina was principal investigator for the collaborative AHRC funded project 'Creating Sustainable Innovation through Design for Behaviour Change’, which led to the publication of the edited book 'Design for Behaviour Change’. The idea of mindful design and behaviour change has also inspired Kristina's work in craft and design practice in which she focuses on exploring complex emotional expression through (elastic) movement, using new technologies, which was funded by the Arts Council in 2005, and the AHRC in 2008-9. Her work has been shown in museums, galleries and trade fairs in Britain and Germany.

Kristina has been a Council Member of the DRS, and Secretary for Special Interest Groups (SIGs) from 2007-2019. In 2008, Kristina has founded the journal 'Craft Research' (Intellect Publishers), dedicated to developing and advancing contemporary craft practice and theory through research, which she co-edits with Dr Katherine Townsend, Nottingham Trent University. Kristina is an internationally experienced reviewer, including for the AHRC College of Peer Reviewers, for the European Commission, for the ESRC, NERC and WHO.

Projects

Creating Sustainable Innovation through Design for Behaviour Change

Funded by the AHRC in 2014, this project has resulted in the first holistic overview of design for behaviour change as a driver for sustainable innovation, which provides a basis for developing successful strategies for the effective implementation of sustainable innovation through design for behaviour change by public and private service providers with focus on SMEs. Further information can be found on the project website: http://behaviourchange. Details…

IdoService

The IDoService: Facilitating Inclusion and Empowerment of People Living with Dementia through Access to Cultural and Creative Activities The project seeks to research and co-develop a service with people with dementia for people with dementia that enables them to continue to participate in social life and make a contribution. It is funded by the This is a two year project (2020-2022), which is funded by the European Horizon2020 Marie Sklodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (GA No 895620). Details…

MinD - Designing for people with dementia: designing for mindful self-empowerment and social engagement

Professor Niedderer has lead the European project MInD 'Designing for people with dementia: designing for mindful self-empowerment and social engagement' (2016-2020), MSCA grant agreement No 691001. Utilising the concept of mindful design, the project investigates innovative design solutions to enable self-empowerment and confidence building of people living with dementia. Details…

The Argentium® Project

Argentium® is a new silver alloy, which was developed at Middlesex University and which has been recognised as a significant development in the history of silver. Among its main benefits (over Sterling silver) are that it is fire-scale-free, that it is highly tarnish resistant, and that it can be laser welded. Details…

Research

Kristina Niedderer is a member of the Design Research Hub.

Artefacts

Niedderer, K., Craven, M., Gosling, J., Orton, L., 2021. 'Mindful Co-design for Dementia toolkit'.

Books

Niedderer, K., Ludden, G., Dening, T., Holthoff-Detto, V., 2024. 'Design for Dementia, Mental Health and Wellbeing', Routledge.

Tournier, I., Orton, L., Niedderer, K., 2022. 'My I Can Do Pathway Guide and Workbook', Manchester Metropolitan University.

Niedderer, K., Clune, S., Ludden, G., 2018. 'Design for Behaviour Change: Theories and Practices of Designing for Change.', Routledge, London and New York.

Book Chapters

Niedderer, K., Townsend, K., 2025. 'Embodied craft practices: mindful flow, creativity, and collaboration as drivers for wellbeing'. In Nimkulrat, N., Groth, C. (eds.) Craft and Design Practice from an Embodied Perspective, pp. 66-79, Routledge, New York.

Niedderer, K., Ludden, G., Dening, T., Holthoff-Detto, V., 2024. 'Conclusions'. In Design for Dementia, Mental Health and Wellbeing, pp. 342-348, Routledge.

Niedderer, K., Tournier, I., Coleston-Shields, D.M., Dening, T., 2024. 'Identifying and categorising mindfulness-based design interventions to support people with dementia and their wellbeing'. In Design for Dementia, Mental Health and Wellbeing, pp. 196-210, Routledge.

Ludden, G., Niedderer, K., Holthoff-Detto, V., Dening, T., 2024. 'Introduction'. In Design for Dementia, Mental Health and Wellbeing, pp. 127-131, Routledge.

Niedderer, K., Ludden, G., Dening, T., Holthoff-Detto, V., 2024. 'Introduction'. In Design for Dementia, Mental Health and Wellbeing, pp. 1-14, Routledge.

Dening, T., Niedderer, K., Ludden, G., Holthoff-Detto, V., 2024. 'Introduction'. In Design for Dementia, Mental Health and Wellbeing, pp. 259-264, Routledge.

Niedderer, K., Ludden, G., Dening, T., Holthoff-Detto, V., 2024. 'Introduction'. In Design for Dementia, Mental Health and Wellbeing, pp. 17-23, Routledge.

Niedderer, K., Tournier, I., Coleston-Shields, D.M., Craven,, M., Gosling, J., Garde, J., Salter, B., Bosse, M., Griffioen, I., 2020. 'Designing with and for People with Dementia: Developing a Mindful Interdisciplinary Co-Design Methodology'. In Muratovski, G., Vogel, C. (eds.) Re:Research. Volume 4: Design and Living Well, pp. 147-168, Intellect.

Niedderer, K., Harrison, D., Gosling, J., Craven, M., Blackler, A., Losada, R., Cid-Bartolomé, T., 2020. 'Working with Experts with Experience: Charting co-production and co-design in the development of HCI based design'. In HCI and Design in the Context of Dementia, Springer.

Niedderer, K., Clune, S., Ludden, G., 2018. 'Design for behaviour change: Introducing five areas of application and related case studies'. In Niedderer, K., Clune, S., Ludden, G. (eds.) Design for Behaviour Change: Theories and Practices of Designing for Change, pp. 161-165, Routledge, London.

Niedderer, K., Clune, S., Ludden, G., 2018. 'Design's intrinsic relationship with change and its challenges for the 21st century'. In Niedderer, K., Clune, S., Ludden, G. (eds.) Design for Behaviour Change: Theories and Practices of Designing for Change, pp. 9-15, Routledge, London.

Niedderer, K., Clune, S., Ludden, G., 2018. 'Future prospects'. In Niedderer, K., Clune, S. (eds.) Design for Behaviour Change: Theories and Practices of Designing for Change, pp. 267-272, Routledge, London.

Niedderer, K., Clune, S., Ludden, G., 2018. 'Introducing models, methods and tools for design for behaviour change'. In Niedderer, K., Clune, S., Ludden, G. (eds.) Design for Behaviour Change: Theories and Practices of Designing for Change, pp. 19-25, Routledge, London.

Niedderer, K., Clune, S., Ludden, G., 2018. 'Introduction: designing for behavioural change'. In Niedderer, K., Clune, S., Ludden, G. (eds.) Design for Behaviour Change: Theories and Practices of Designing for Change, pp. 3-8, Routledge, London.

Niedderer, K., Clune, S., Ludden, G., 2018. 'Reflecting on current applications of design for behaviour change'. In Niedderer, K., Clune, S., Ludden, G. (eds.) Design for Behaviour Change: Theories and Practices of Designing for Change, pp. 250-260, Routledge, London.

Niedderer, K., Clune, S., Ludden, G., 2018. 'Summary of design for behavioural change approaches'. In Design for Behaviour Change: Theories and Practices of Designing for Change, pp. 150-157, Routledge, London.

Niedderer, K., Clune, S., Ludden, G., 2017. 'Design for behaviour change'. In Design for Behaviour Change, pp. 161-165, Routledge.

Gardiner, E., Niedderer, K., 2017. 'Design for Social Behaviour Change'. In Niedderer, K., Clune, S., Ludden, G. (eds.) Design for Behaviour Change: Theories and Practices of Designing for Change, pp. 235-250, Routledge, London.

Gardiner, E., Niedderer, K., 2017. 'Design for social behaviour change'. In Design for Behaviour Change, pp. 235-249, Routledge.

Niedderer, K., Clune, S., Ludden, G., 2017. 'Design's intrinsic relationship with change and its challenges for the 21st century'. In Design for Behaviour Change, pp. 9-15, Routledge.

Niedderer, K., 2017. 'Facilitating behaviour change through mindful design'. In Design for Behaviour Change, pp. 104-115, Routledge.

Niedderer, K., 2017. 'Facilitating behaviour change through mindful design'. In Niedderer, K., Clune, S., Ludden, G. (eds.) Design for Behaviour Change: Theories and Practices of Designing for Change, pp. 104-115, Routledge, London.

Niedderer, K., Clune, S., Ludden, G., 2017. 'Future prospects'. In Design for Behaviour Change, pp. 267-272, Routledge.

Niedderer, K., Clune, S., Ludden, G., 2017. 'Introducing models, methods and tools for design for behaviour change'. In Design for Behaviour Change, pp. 19-25, Routledge.

Niedderer, K., Clune, S., Ludden, G., 2017. 'Introduction'. In Design for Behaviour Change, pp. 3-8, Routledge.

Niedderer, K., 2017. 'Promoting sustainability through mindful design'. In Chapman, J. (eds.) Routledge Handbook of Sustainable Product Design, pp. 527-539, Taylor & Francis.

Niedderer, K., Clune, S., Ludden, G., 2017. 'Reflecting on current applications of design for behaviour change'. In Design for Behaviour Change, pp. 250-260, Routledge.

Niedderer, K., Clune, S., Ludden, G., 2017. 'Summary of design for behavioural change approaches'. In Design for Behaviour Change, pp. 150-157, Routledge.

Niedderer, K., 2014. 'Mediating Mindful Social Interactions Through Design'. In Le, A., Ngnoumen, C.T., Langer, E.J. (eds.) The Wiley Blackwell Handbook of Mindfulness, pp. 345-366, Wiley.

Data Sets

Orton, L., Tournier, I., Niedderer, K., Threfall, S., 2021. 'Ido Service project - work package one data'.

Orton, L., Tournier, I., Niedderer, K., Threlfall, S., 2021. 'Ido Service project - work package two data'.

Reports

Orton, L., Niedderer, K., 2021. 'A guide to Mindful Scenario Task Analysis', MinD - Designing for People with Dementia.

Internet Publications

Niedderer, K., Orton, L., 2020. 'Living the Life', https://www.designingfordemenia.eu/rersources.

Journal Articles

Niedderer, K., Townsend, K., Potter, G., 2024. 'Editorial', Craft Research, 15 (1), pp. 3-11.

Tournier, I., Orton, L., Dening, T., Ahmed, A., Holthoff-Detto, V., Niedderer, K., 2023. 'An Investigation of the Wishes, Needs, Opportunities and Challenges of Accessing Meaningful Activities for People Living with Mild to Moderate Dementia', International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20 (7).

Niedderer, K., Townsend, K., Potter, G., 2023. 'Editorial: Making: Place, material and metaphor', Craft Research, 14 (2), pp. 191-198.

Niedderer, K., Tournier, I., Orton, L., Threlfall, S., 2023. 'I Can Do: Co-Designing a Service with and for People with Dementia to Engage with Volunteering', Social Sciences, 12 (6), pp. 364-364.

Ziebuhr, B., Zanasi, M., Bueno Aguado, Y., Losada Durán, R., Dening, T., Tournier, I., Niedderer, K., Diaz, A., Druschke, D., Almeida, R., Holthoff-Detto, V., 2023. 'Living Well with Dementia: Feeling Empowered through Interaction with Their Social Environment', International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20 (12), pp. 6080-6080.

Niedderer, K., Holthoff-Detto, V., van Rompay, T.J.L., Karahanoglu, A., Ludden, G.D.S., Almeida, R., Durán, R.L., Aguado, Y.B., Lim, J.N.W., Smith, T., Harrison, D., Craven, M.P., Gosling, J., Orton, L., Tournier, I., 2022. 'This is Me: Evaluation of a boardgame to promote social engagement, wellbeing and agency in people with dementia through mindful life-storytelling', Journal of Aging Studies, 60, pp. 100995-100995.

Lim, J.N.W., Niedderer, K., Tournier, I., Almeida, R., Harrison, D., Holthoff-Detto, V., Ludden, G., van Rompay, T., van der Voort, M., Galansinska, A., Smith, T., Lasada, R.L., Bueno, Y.A., Druschke, D., Ziebuhr, B., Zanasi, M., 2021. 'Assessing the generalisability of a multicentre qualitative dementia research: the experience and challenges faced by the MinD project in Europe', Open Research Europe, 1, pp. 64-64.

Townsend, K., Niedderer, K., 2021. 'Craft as a meeting place', Craft Research, 12 (1), pp. 3-8.

Niedderer, K., Townsend, K., 2021. 'Craft between tradition and adaptation', Craft Research, 12 (2), pp. 175-181.

Fels, D., Blackler, A., Niedderer, K., 2021. 'Does bouncy equal happy? Comparing user's interpretations of emotions conveyed by one designed moving object based on the soma-semiotic framework', Applied Ergonomics: human factors in technology and society, 96.

Townsend, K., Niedderer, K., 2020. 'Crafting health, well-being and happiness', Craft Research, 11 (1), pp. 3-8.

Niedderer, K., Townsend, K., 2020. 'Crafting progress through research education and digital innovation', Craft Research, 11 (2), pp. 171-176.

Karana, E., Nimkulrat, N., Giaccardi, E., Niedderer, K., Fan, J.N., 2019. 'Alive. Active. Adaptive: Experiential Knowledge and Emerging Materials', International Journal of Design, 13 (2), pp. 1-5.

Niedderer, K., Townsend, K., 2019. 'Celebrating craft', Craft Research, 10 (1), pp. 3-15.

Ludden, G., van Rompay, T., Niedderer, K., Tournier, I., 2019. 'Environmental Design for Dementia Care Towards more Meaningful Experiences through Design', Maturitas, 128, pp. 10-16.

Niedderer, K., Townsend, K., 2019. 'Sustaining craft's heritage: Place, people and practice', Craft Research, 10 (2), pp. 177-182.

Niedderer, K., Townsend, K., 2018. 'Editorial: The politics of craft', Craft Research, 9 (1), pp. 3-7.

Niedderer, K., Townsend, K., 2018. 'Making sense: Personal, ecological and social sustainability through craft', Craft Research, 9 (2), pp. 195-200.

Niedderer, K., Townsend, K., 2017. 'Editorial: Exploring aesthetics and cultural meanings through craft', Craft Research, 8 (1), pp. 3-8.

Niedderer, K., Townsend, K., 2017. 'Editorial: Tradition and change: Craft between vernacular cultures and social innovation', Craft Research, 8 (2), pp. 163-167.

Townsend, K., Niedderer, K., 2016. 'Craft and emotional expression: Connecting through material engagement', Craft Research, 7 (1), pp. 3-9.

Niedderer, K., Ludden, G., Clune, S., Lockton, D., Mackrill, J., Morris, A., Cain, R., Gardiner, E., Evans, M., Gutteridge, R., Hekkert, P., 2016. 'Design for Behaviour Change as a Driver for Sustainable Innovation: Challenges and Opportunities for Implementation in the Private and Public Sectors', International Journal of Design, 10 (2), pp. 67-85.

Woolley, M., Niedderer, K., 2016. 'Editorial: Real or unreal? - Crafting authenticity in the digital age', Craft Research, 7 (2), pp. 159-164.

Dean, L.T., Niedderer, K., 2016. 'Flex-it: Exploring emotional expression through elasticity in digital manufacturing', Craft Research, 7 (1), pp. 51-77.

Niedderer, K., Reilly, L., 2015. 'Editorial', EKSIG 2009: Experiential Knowledge, Method and Methodology - International Conference 2009 of the DRS Special Interest Group on Experiential Knowledge, Conference Proceedings.

Amos, M., Rasmussen, S., McCaskill, J., Dittrich, P., 2015. 'Editorial', Artificial Life, 21 (2), pp. 193-194.

Niedderer, K., Townsend, K., 2015. 'Empowering crafts - Intangible heritage, women and socially disadvantaged groups', Craft Research, 6 (1), pp. 3-8.

Nimkulrat, N., Niedderer, K., Evans, M.A., 2015. 'On understanding expertise, connoisseurship, and experiential knowledge in professional practice', Journal of Research Practice, 11 (2).

Niedderer, K., Townsend, K., 2014. 'Craft, innovation and creativity', Craft Research, 5 (2), pp. 149-153.

Niedderer, K., Townsend, K., 2014. 'Crafting international communities', Craft Research, 5 (1), pp. 3-10.

Niedderer, K., Townsend, K., 2014. 'Designing craft research: Joining emotion and knowledge', Design Journal, 17 (4), pp. 624-648.

Niedderer, K., 2013. 'Explorative Materiality and Knowledge. The Role of Creative Exploration and Artefacts in Design Research', FormAkademisk - forskningstidsskrift for design og designdidaktikk, 6 (2).

Mey, K., Niedderer, K., 2012. 'Editorial', Art, Design and Communication in Higher Education, 10 (2), pp. 121-125.

Niedderer, K., 2012. 'Exploring elastic movement as a medium for complex emotional expression in silver design', International Journal of Design, 6 (3), pp. 57-69.

Niedderer, K., Reilly, L., 2010. 'Research practice in art and design: Experiential knowledge and organised inquiry', Journal of Research Practice, 6 (2).

Niedderer, K., Reilly, L., 2007. 'New knowledge in the creative disciplines -- proceedings of the first Experiential Knowledge Conference 2007', Journal of Visual Art Practice, 6 (2), pp. 81-87.

Non-Peer Reviewed Articles

Niedderer, K., Townsend, K., 2023. 'Editorial: Shifting craft's horizons: From individual makers to post-anthropocentric models of co-production', Craft Research Journal, 14 (1), pp. 3-8.

Niedderer, K., Townsend, K., 2022. 'Editorial: Nature as source and inspiration for materials and making', Craft Research Journal, 13 (1), pp. 3-8.

Conference Papers

Borzenkova, G., Tang, J., Niedderer, K., 2023. 'Co-designing with children with cerebral palsy: context and co-design principles', IASDR 2023: Life-Changing Design, Milan, Italy, 9/10/2023 - 13/10/2023, in IASDR 2023: Life-Changing Design.

Niedderer, K., Fung, P.L., 2023. 'Living the life: evidence-based design and evaluation of psychosocial interventions with people with dementia', IASDR 2023: Life-Changing Design, Milan, Italy, 9/10/2023 - 13/10/2023, in IASDR 2023: Life-Changing Design.

Niedderer, K., Tournier, I., Orton, L., 2022. 'An overview of current practices and approaches to co-designing services with and for people with dementia towards developing a framework for best practice', 25/6/2022 - 3/7/2022, in DRS Conference Proceedings.

Tournier, I., Dening, T., Orton, L., Niedderer, K., 2022. 'IDoService project: using a co-design approach to facilitate participation in meaningful activities for people living with mild dementia', 32nd Alzheimer Europe conference, Bucharest, Romania, 17/10/2022 - 19/10/2022.

Nimkulrat, N., Niedderer, K., Evans, M., 2020. 'Editorial', in EKSIG 2013: Knowing Inside Out - Experiential Knowledge, Expertise and Connoisseurship - International Conference 2013 of the Design Research Society Special Interest Group on Experiential Knowledge, Conference Proceedings, pp. 3-10.

Niedderer, K., Woelfel, C., Ludden, G., Cain, R., 2019. 'Editorial: Designing with and for people with Dementia: Wellbeing, Empowerment and Happiness', Proceedings: International MinD Conference 2019, Dresden, University, 19/9/2019 - 20/9/2019.

Gosling, J., Craven, M., Dening, T., Coleston-Shields, D., Aberturas, A., Martin, S., Muñoz, M., Ruiz, G.B., Bueno, Y., Almeida, R., Català, A., Díaz,, M., Karahanoglu, A., Ludden, G.D.S., Smith, T., Niedderer, K., Lüneburg, L.M., Tournier, I., Abrilahij,, 2019. 'The AIR model (Activities, Internal world, Relationships): a pragmatic framework for evaluating co-design', Proceedings: Designing with and for people with Dementia: Wellbeing, Empowerment and Happiness. International MinD Conference 2019, Dresden, Germany, 19/9/2019 - 20/9/2019, in Designing with and for people with Dementia: Wellbeing, Empowerment and Happiness, 13, pp. 27-39.

Lim, J., Almeida, R., Holthoff-Detto, V., Ludden, G., Niedderer, K., MinD consortium, , 2019. 'What is needed to obtain informed consent and monitor capacity for a successful study involving People with Mild Dementia? Our experience in a multi-centre study', Proceedings: Designing with and for people with Dementia: Wellbeing, Empowerment and Happiness. International MinD Conference 2019, Dresden, Germany, 19/9/2019 - 20/9/2019, in Designing with and for people with Dementia: Wellbeing, Empowerment and Happiness, 13, pp. 139-149.

Garde, J.A., van der Voort, M.C., Niedderer, K., 2018. 'Design Probes for People with Dementia', Design Research Society Conference 2018, University of Limerick, 25/6/2018 - 28/6/2018, in DRS2018: Catalyst, 6.

Borzenkova, G., Niedderer, K., Rozsahegyi, T., 2018. 'Designing Play Equipment for Children with Cerebral Palsy: the context and design guidelines', Design Research Society Conference 2018, University of Limerick, 25/6/2018 - 28/6/2018, in DRS2018: Catalyst.

Borzenkova, G., Niedderer, K., Rozsahegyi, T., 2018. 'Designing toys for children with cerebral palsy', The 8th World Conference of the International Toy Research Association, Paris, France, 11/7/2018 - 13/7/2018, in Toys and Material Culture: Hybridisation, Design and Consumption (Paris, 11-13 July 2018).

Niedderer, K., Coleston-Shields, D.M., Tournier, I., Craven, M., Gosling, J., Garde, J.A., Salter, B., Bosse, M., Griffoen, I., 2017. 'Designing with and for People with Dementia: Developing a Mindful Interdisciplinary Co-Design Methodology', IASDR 2017, 7th International Conference, Cincinnati, USA, 31/10/2017 - 3/11/2017, in Proceedings of IASDR 2017.

Niedderer, K., MacKrill, J., Clune, S., Evans, M., Lockton, D., Ludden, G., Morris, A., Gutteridge, R., Gardiner, E., Cain, R., Hekkert, P., 2014. 'Joining forces: Investigating the influence of design for behaviour change on sustainable innovation', in Proceedings of NordDesign 2014 Conference, NordDesign 2014, pp. 620-631.

Niedderer, K., Townsend, K., 2010. 'Craft research: Joining emotion and knowledge', in Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Design and Emotion.

Niedderer, K., 2007. 'Designing mindful interaction: The category of performative object', in Design Issues, 23 (1), pp. 3-17.