Hi there...

Hello - thank you for visiting my blog.

I trained as a social anthropologist. I have a social anthropology Ph.D. from St Andrews University.  I was a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities (IASH) at Edinburgh University and at the Centre for Research on Socio-Cultural Change (CRESC) and I lectured in the social anthropology department at Manchester University. 

Having spent ten years working in academic research, I completed an interior design diploma at the Interior Design School in London in 2014.  I became a Strategic Consultant at Strategy+ (legacy DEGW) at AECOM, and a Senior Researcher at the internationally renowned architecture practice Foster + Partners.  I now run my own spatial research, design strategy and innovation consultancy, Human City.

I apply my knowledge of social change to help architects create spaces for people.  I collaborate with my former academic colleagues to understand the relationship between space and society.  I continue to present and publish my research on contemporary knowledge practices and how they are shaped and expressed in the design of urban cities. 

Please do get in touch with me for more information about my research or my business.

Gemma

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My Interests

Social anthropologists decode what people say and do in different cultures to gain an understanding of people’s lived experiences and diverse world views. This is useful as it enables architects to take an approach to design that focuses on the building occupant. I am keen for us to gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between people and buildings.   I am interested in how architects can critically reflecting on their research methods as a means of tackling  'social sustainability'.