Dr Yiting Duan

Profile

My academic and professional background spans fashion and textile design, brand communication, colour and materials design, textile innovation and design for health. Before joining the University of Leeds, I held a permanent lectureship at Zhejiang Sci-Tech University in China, where I taught and conducted research across fashion and textile design for healthcare-related subjects.

My previous research includes projects examining colour-based therapeutic approaches for children and young people with ADHD, with a focus on how designed environments can support attention, emotional wellbeing and behavioural regulation. I have also undertaken research in colour, materials and finishes for omnichannel fashion marketing, functional environments and medical equipment, and machine-learning-supported colour recognition and pattern development for digital textile printing.

This foundation has informed my current interests in neuroinclusive design and healthy ageing, including the development of supportive products, textiles, environments and services for those underserved groups as neurodivergent young people, older adults, people affected by dementia and so on. My experience in digital textile design, material visualisation and machine-learning-supported design systems further enables me to explore personalised, responsive and adaptable solutions for health and wellbeing.

Alongside my academic roles, I worked as a consultant, providing product design and brand marketing expertise to organisations in sectors including childrenswear, womenswear, museums, cultural heritage and creative products.

Responsibilities

• Deputy Programme Leader BA (Hons) Fashion Marketing

Research interests

My research interests centre on design for health and wellbeing, with a particular focus on human-centred, neuroinclusive and multisensory approaches to products, environments and services. I explore how design can respond to the cognitive, emotional, behavioural, communication and sensory needs of children and young people, neurodivergent people, older adults and underserved communities who may experience barriers within healthcare and everyday settings.

My work investigates how inclusive environments, textiles, medical equipment and interactive products can support comfort, engagement, independence, emotional wellbeing and quality of life. Key areas of interest include neurodivergence, healthy ageing, dementia, unpaid caring, and inequalities in access to health and community support.

I am also interested in how co-design, lived-experience involvement and digital technologies can contribute to more personalised, responsive and accessible solutions. My research considers colour, materials, form, texture, sound and other sensory qualities as integrated elements of multisensory design, with the aim of creating more inclusive and meaningful health-related experiences.

Qualifications

• PhD - Colour Psychology and Consumer Behaviour - University of Leeds
• MA - Design - University of Leeds
• BA - Fashion Design - Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology

Professional memberships

• FHEA

Student education

I teach across the BA Fashion Marketing programme, specialising in fashion trends, trend forecasting and creative brand communication. I contribute to a variety of modules within the BA in Fashion Marketing programme mainly for Level 2 and Level 3.

Current postgraduate researchers

• Meng Li