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Dr Joe Langley
Name:
Dr Joe Langley
Job Title:
Principal Research Fellow – Design Research
Place of work / study:
Lab4Living, Sheffield Hallam University
Area of Research:
CoDesign and Knowledge Mobilisation applied to Health and Wellbeing
How is your work funded:
My employer, and a range of public funders (eg NIHR, Innovate UK), national and local government, NHS, third sector and industry.
Tell us a little about yourself:
I am a design engineer by training. I began my research career collaborating with medical imaging experts, taking their data into engineering simulations to model human tissue damage. My work gradually expanded to medical devices, services, policy, practices and behaviours. I became super interested in making health research and innovation more democratic; involving people affected by the issues and outcomes. I also became interested in how much good research was wasted by not being used – and committed myself to exploring and addressing this. I connected these two things, convinced that involving stakeholders would help to get research used. But there was something else besides this – something about design practices that helped to engage people in the research and communicated, embodied and shared research in more accessible and usable forms. I was awarded an NIHR fellowship to explore these things in 2013 and have remained immersed in these topics ever since.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself:
I played brass instruments for many years, including a gig with Roy Castle shortly before he died, and playing at both the Royal Festival Hall and Royal Albert Hall. Oh, and I have a miniature poodle named Obi Wan, and three children.
Why did you choose to work in dementia:
My maternal grandmother died of Alzheimer’s in the late 90’s. The experience showed me issues with diagnosis, care and access to support, and the limitations and burden on family as informal carers. I work across many areas of disease and wellbeing. My motivations are the same for all – trying to create substantive change to make experiences better for myself and others.
What single piece of of advice would you give to an early career researcher?
Try different methods, collaborate with different disciplines, involve different stakeholders – and broaden your understanding of what knowledge, and evidence, is. (And read ‘Unflattering’ by Nick Sousanis)
What book are you reading right now? Would you recommend it?
‘Unflattering’ by Nick Sousanis
Favourite film of all time?
Delicatessen
Favourite ways to unplug and unwind?
Cycling or walking the dog.
Can we find you on social media?
Follow @joelangley.bsky.social
Would you like to share your playlist?
Working on it
LSE Impact Blog
NIHR
