Dr Rafiq Elmansy

Profile

I'm a Lecturer in Graphic Digital and Communication Design at the School of Design, University of Leeds, working at the intersection of design thinking, behavioural design for healthcare, AI and Design, and Human-AI Interaction.

I am the programme leader for the MA Design programme and a module leader for several core and optional modules. Additionally, I am the editorial manager for the Visible Language journal.

I hold a PhD in Design from Northumbria University, where my thesis examined how design thinking improves patient adherence to self-administered treatment technology. That research produced the Adherence Canvas, a tool companies use to embed adherence thinking into product development. I also hold an MA in Design Management with Distinction from Staffordshire University.

Responsibilities

• MA Design Programme Leader
• AI and Design Module Leader
• Design Prototyping and Evaluation Module Leader

Research interests

My research asks how design can improve patient adherence to self-administered treatment, and, increasingly, how AI can support that process—carried out in partnership with:

National Health Service (NHS)
Health Innovation Network
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)
Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust (LTHT)
NIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre
Sunderland Teaching Hospitals Trust, Philips Medical
Newcastle University, and Centre of Process Innovation (CPI).

My research involved collaborating with Polyphotonix and developing Noctura400, an innovative non-invasive treatment for diabetic eye diseases approved by the NHS and supported by several clinical trials.

Research Activities

I am particularly interested in how design can address the relationship between people, behaviour and technology. My research interests span four connected areas.

Design for Health
My research focuses on empowering patients through design, particularly by improving patient adherence and utilising AI in healthcare technology. I work directly with health-system partners to ground this research in clinical practice.

Design (Thinking) Process
More broadly, I research how design theories and philosophy translate into practice in problem framing and developing innovative solutions. I also research how to utilise design within organisations to achieve strategic value.

Persuasive and Behavioural Design
I apply behavioural design and habit-formation theory to design problems across healthcare and adjacent fields, most directly in my work co-designing for habitual change, such as encouraging diet management for diabetes patients and tackling social media over-usage.

AI and Design
My research involves implementing AI in health technology and mapping patient adherence. My research also investigates human-AI interaction and how AI is shifting the design process.

PhD supervision

I actively seek ambitious PhD students eager to shape the future of design at the intersection of technology, health, and human behaviour. If you are passionate about pioneering research in design process and innovation, design for health, behavioural and habitual design, AI and Design, or human-AI interaction, I invite you to join our dynamic research community at Leeds.

We encourage applicants to identify compelling, real-world problems to investigate, articulate their significance, and outline how their research could drive meaningful advances in design knowledge and practice. Successful projects not only expand theoretical understanding but also create practical value for society, industry, and the evolving field of design. To enquire about supervision, please email r.elmansy@leeds.ac.uk with:

* A brief introduction to your academic or professional background (CV).
* An outline of your proposed research and initial research questions.

Post-Graduate Research (PhD) Supervision

Cennydd Bowles (2026 - 2029) Project: Ars Gratia Artifice? Deception in Automated Design. (Secondary supervisor)
Yunlu Liu (2024 - 2027) Project: Design for improving Digital Trust. (Secondary supervisor)
Wei Yang (2024 – 2027). Project: The impact of sustainable fashion marketing strategies on consumer loyalty: a case study of small and medium-sized apparel enterprises. (Main supervisor)
Heyuan Ma (2025 – 2028) Project: Augmented reality interventions for colourblind-friendly wayfinding: exploring inclusive hospital signage design. (Secondary supervisor)
Robert Jones (2018 - 2025) thesis: The Optimisation of Operations & Maintenance Management Strategies within the Wind Power Sector through Artificial Intelligence. (Secondary supervision)

Book publications

I'm a published author of several digital design and technology books for many publishers, such as John Wiley, Taylor and Francis, and Elsevier. My books and articles were translated into several languages. I'm also the founder of Designorate.com, a website that teaches design and design thinking tools for innovation.

Industrial experience

Before joining academia, I spent 20 years in the design industry. I worked on several design projects and collaborated with international companies and organisations, including the UN, World Bank, Adobe, and Pearson Certiport.

For several years, I worked closely with Adobe as an Adobe Educational Leader, improving creative education through technology. I have also served as a jury board member in several international design competitions, including the A' Design Award, Poster for Tomorrow, and the Adobe Design Achievement Award (ADAA).

Qualifications

• PhD in Design
• MA Design Management

Professional memberships

• Fellow, Higher Education Academy
• Fellow, Royal Society of the Arts
• Member, Design Research Society
• Member, Adobe Educational Leaders

Student education

I am the programme leader for the MA Design programme, and a module leader for several core and optional modules in the programme. In this role, I serve on several teaching committees, including the School Taught Student Education Committee (STSEC) and the Student Education Partnership Forum (SEF).

I contributed to developing and teaching in several design programmes at four universities: The American University in Cairo, Northumbria University, Wrexham Glyndwr University, and the University of Leeds. These programmes included Graphic Design, Design Management and Luxury Brand Management.
My teaching involves various design subjects, including AI and design, human-AI interaction, UX design, design thinking, design prototyping, and design management. My teaching philosophy is based on reflective practice, informed by search-led teaching and teaching-led research strategies.

Current postgraduate researchers

• Yunlu Liu
• Heyuan Ma