Empowering Design Practices
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About > Team

OUR TEAM

The Empowering Design Practices project is led by the Open University along with a multi-disciplinary team of academics, community partners and professionals, bringing together a range of expertise across the arts and humanities: from architecture, design research, arts and media, to architectural history, heritage, religious studies and cultural studies.  

The core team leading on the co-design and delivery of the project activity is the strategic partnership of The Design Group at the Open University and The Glass-House Community Led Design, who have collaborated on multiple AHRC-funded projects dedicated to design, people and place over the past seven years.

The Open University
The leading expert in flexible higher education learning underpinned by world-leading research.

People:
Dr Theo Zamenopoulos (Principal Investigator)
Expertise: participatory design research and socio-psychological processes of design thinking

Dr Katerina Alexiou (Co-Investigator)
Expertise: methods to support community-led design, creative citizenship

Vera Hale (Research Associate)
Expertise: community-led design, sustainable design

Dr Ruchit Purohit (Research Associate, 2015-2017)
Expertise: design research, heritage decision-making

Prof. Elizabeth McKellar (Co-Investigator)
Expertise: architectural & cultural history

Dr Susie West (Co-Investigator)
Expertise: historic built environment and heritage

Dr Tim Coughlan (Co-Investigator)
Expertise: educational technology

Project advisors
​
Dr Christopher Wakeling
(Chair of Historic England's Places of Worship Forum)
Expertise: Heritage management

Prof John Wolffe (Open University)
Expertise: Religious studies

Dr John Maiden (Open University)
Expertise: Religious studies

Prof Prue Chiles (University of Newcastle)
Expertise: Architecture, participatory design


​The Glass-House Community Led Design 
A national charity that supports communities, organisations and networks to work collaboratively on the design of places.

People:
Sophia de Sousa, Chief Executive
Grace Crannis, Outreach and Impact Manager
Myra Stuart, Design Enabling and Research Manager
Louise Dredge, Head of Creative Engagement (2014-2018)

Historic England
The public body that looks after England's historic environment.

People:
Diana Evans, Head of Places of Worship and Owners Advice

National Lottery Heritage Fund
The body which uses money raised by National Lottery players to inspire, lead and resource the UK’s heritage to create positive and lasting change for people and communities, now and in the future.

People:
Sara Crofts, Head of Historic Environment (2014-2018)
Adam Tyson, Policy Advisor and Programme Manager Historic Environment 

Historic Religious Buildings Alliance
A membership group which brings together those working for a secure future for historic religious buildings.
​
People:
Becky Payne, Development Officer

Live Works 
The University of Sheffield School of Architecture’s 'Urban Room'  which aims to open up the school's teaching and research to the benefit of the city of Sheffield and beyond. 

People:
Leo Care, Co-Director
​
Consultants
Becky Payne, heritage consultant and HRBA Development officer
Stephen Smith, Wright & Wright Architects
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