Reem Talhouk

My research interests lie at the intersection of design, innovation and global development. My research questions the interplay between technological designs, humanitarian innovation processes and practices, public health and community resilience in contexts of marginalisation. I am interested in working with humanitarian innovators to understand their practices and work towards integrating novel and pluralistic design methodologies and principles in to humanitarian innovation practices. To that end, I have been working with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent, TraidCraft Exchange, Global Innovation Gathering, R0g and academics at the American University of Beirut to embark on an exploration of how humanitarian innovation can be done in a socially just manner and in support of socially just outcomes. Additionally, I draw from decolonial theory, intersectional feminism, design justice and social justice when working with displaced communities to innovate in how design is conducted as well as to create new mediums for interaction that increase refugee agency and capabilities. In doing so my research aims to challenge existing marginal ways of being.

I lead on a project that aims to develop an understanding of design justice in contexts of compounded crises. Using Lebanon as a case study, we explored the historical, social, political and economic factors that needs to be accounted for when designing in spaces of competing social justice claims. I am also a co-investigator on a SIGCHI Development Fund grant that aims at enabling design and Human-Computer knowledge exchange with youth and academics in Timor Leste.

I am also highly interested in addressing racial inequalities in Higher Education. I have recently received a Vice Chancellor Diversity Fund Grant to conduct future workshops with students and staff in an effort to reimagine a racially equal university. The research will inform Northumbria University’s RACE Equality policies and processes.