Dean Brown

Senior Research Fellow

Department: Northumbria School of Design

Dean Brown is a 3D designer and researcher based in London. As a member of the Interaction Research Studio he pursues practive based research exploring the design of computational systems for everyday life. Projects include EPSRC funded MyNaturewatch, Yo-Yo Machines, ProbeTools and More-than-Human Data Interactions in the City (MoTH). He is adept at creating engaging designs from humble materials and has used his network to create links between the Studio and the wider design community.

In parallel to his research Dean is the founder of Brown Office - a multidisciplinary studio creating objects, installations and interiors for clients including Google, V&A, Uniqlo, Campari, Sèvres, Depop and Barbican Library. The work of Brown Office is exhibited regularly at the Milan Design Week, London Design Festival, the Aram Gallery and Schloss Hollenegg.

Dean studied Product Design at DJCAD, Dundee (2003-2007) followed by a residency period at Fabrica Research Centre, Italy (2010-2014). Amongst other things he has designed vases, cameras, kitchens and sunglasses for puffins.

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Key Publications

Please visit the Pure Research Information Portal for further information
A Practice-Based Approach to Post-Human Computer Interaction: Design Notes from Nature Scenes, Brown, D., Ovalle Piedra, L., Matsuda, N. 26 Feb 2023, TEI '23, New York, US, ACM
Yo-Yo Machines: Speed Dial exhibited as part of the Saint-Étienne Design Biennial 2022, Boucher, A., Gaver, W., Brown, D., Vanis, M., Sheen, A., Ovalle Piedra, L., Matsuda, N., Chatting, D. 6 Apr 2022
Yo–Yo Machines: Self-Build Devices that Support Social Connections During the Pandemic , Gaver, B., Boucher, A., Brown, D., Chatting, D., Matsuda, N., Ovalle Piedra, L., Sheen, A., Vanis, M. 29 Apr 2022, CHI 2022 - Proceedings of the 2022 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, New York, US, ACM
My Naturewatch Camera, Gaver, W., Boucher, A., Brown, D., Matsuda, N., Molinera, J., Ovalle, L., Sheen, A., Vanis, M., Phillips, R., Abbas-Nazari, A., Growing, B., Anderson, R. 3 Jun 2021
Yo-yo machines: self-build peripheral awareness communication devices, Gaver, W., Boucher, A., Brown, D., Chatting, D., Matsuda, N., Molinera, J., Ovalle Piedra, L., Sheen, A., Vanis, M. Nov 2021
Design and Deploying Tools to ‘Actively Engaging Nature’: The My Naturewatch Project as an Agent for Engagement, Phillips, R., Abbas-Nazari, A., Tooze, J., Gaver, W., Boucher, A., Ovalle, L., Sheen, A., Brown, D., Matsuda, N., Vanis, M. 8 Jun 2019, HCII 2019: Human Aspects of IT for the Aged Population. Design for the Elderly and Technology Acceptance, Cham, Switzerland, Springer
My Naturewatch Camera: Disseminating Practice Research with a Cheap and Easy DIY Design, Gaver, W., Boucher, A., Vanis, M., Sheen, A., Brown, D., Ovalle Piedra, L., Matsuda, N., Abbas-Nazari, A., Phillips, R. 2 May 2019, CHI '19: Proceedings of the 2019 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, New York, ACM
Nature Scenes: Brompton Biotopia, London Design Festival 2019, Brown, D., Matsuda, N., Ovalle, L., Boucher, A., Vanis, M., Sheen, A., Gaver, W. 22 Sep 2019
ProbeTools: VA Digital Design Weekend 2019, Boucher, A., Brown, D., Ovalle, L., Sheen, A., Vanis, M., Gaver, W., Matsuda, N. 22 Sep 2019
ProbeTools: unconventional cameras and audio devices for user research, Boucher, A., Brown, D., Gaver, B., Matsuda, N., Ovalle, L., Sheen, A., Vanis, M. 22 Feb 2019, In: Interactions