Alex Tinning

I have a long-standing history with Northumbria University – starting with Furniture Design from 2005 to 2008 and graduating from MA/MSc Multidisciplinary Design Innovation (MDI) in 2011. Now researching for my PhD which focuses on day-to-day dependence and relationships within Human-Centered Design for mental health care services.

Following graduation from MDI I took on roles as a Emerging Markets Design Manager in the Global Design Hub in Slough and then Design and Innovation Manger based in the Middle East. Both of these roles involved working on the Mars brands (Snickers, M&M’s, Twix, Galaxy) at the fuzzy front end of innovation in diverse markets with a talented, passionate Design team and skilled Design network partners. Since returning to the UK I have moved to Natwest and the Royal Bank of Scotland to the position of Service Designer. Because this role is Digitally and Service focused it has required a steep learning curve into the world of user experience, customer experience and operating models. I continue to learn every day on the value Design can bring to challenges and equally, the value other fields can bring to Design.