Dr Nadia Pantidi

Dr Nadia Pantidi is a Senior Lecturer in Interaction Design, Programme lead of the Interaction Design major in the Bachelor of Design Innovation degree, and Chair of the Research Committee at Te Kura Hoahoa—School of Design Innovation.

Dr Pantidi designs with people rather than for people, and her research takes place in the real world, not just inside laboratories.

“My approach involves co-design, participatory and experience-centered methodologies that prioritise direct engagement with stakeholders and acknowledge people as active agents and experts of their own experiences.”

Dr Pantidi’s research has improved how communities communicate and their resilience.

“In a previous project we helped grassroots communities to change national legislation so they could establish community radio stations and improve media plurality. We also supported local communities to establish low-cost radio stations that were later instrumental in disseminating information and connecting vulnerable and elderly members of the community during the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Her current research deploys virtual reality as an educational tool to address bariatric care and prevention of harm.

“Our first year involved huis that brought together Māori and Pacifica health care users, undergraduate Pasifika nurse educators, paramedics and healthcare workers and educators.

“The conversations during those huis resulted in a strong partnership and joint vision that allows us to move to the next research stage of development and have already informed changes in Te Whatu Ora with regards to patient handling formal training.”

Seeing the success of co-design, participatory and experience-centered methodologies drive Dr Pantidi.

“I feel very lucky and privileged to be able to do this type of applied research because of the direct impact it has on everyday people and communities and not just academia.”

Dr Crystal Victoria Olin

Dr Crystal Victoria Olin is a Lecturer and Deputy Head of School—Engagement at Te Kura Waihanga—Wellington School of Architecture.

A self-described ‘hybrid creature’ from the United States of America and with lived experience in Australia, Sweden and Italy, Dr Olin researches neighbourhoods, contested notions of 'community' and inclusive living arrangements, expressions of identity and belonging, and how urban environments can be both resilient and uplifting or empowering.

“A connecting thread throughout my professional efforts is an ambition to help shape cities and other settlements to become more resilient, inspired places where every person can experience belonging and pursue wellbeing.”

She adopts a visionary and inclusive mindset to design.

“It's crucial to stay curious and collaborative, and take the long view of history—we need to be designing and building with the 200- or 500-year horizon in mind rather than limiting ourselves and the lifespan of our structures to 20 or 50 years.”

Dr Olin is an external researcher and former Deputy Director of the Public Housing & Urban Regeneration (PH&UR) Research Programme, a government-funded examination of how public housing tenants’ wellbeing is impacted by a range of factors, including the design and ease of access to and from their dwelling and surrounding spaces.

“I have helped to forge partner relationships with housing providers across Aotearoa New Zealand. As a result, providers are using our research findings to better understand or improve aspects of their housing design or management.

“One of these organisations has agreed to further partner with me on a spin-off project seeking to understand and enhance sense of place, belonging and agency of rangatahi (young people aged 10-24 years) living in public housing. This project takes a co-design approach with rangatahi.”

Dr Olin has also led urban design teams at Wellington City Council and Dunedin City Council.

“While working at Wellington City Council, I led the team responsible for creating the Central City Green Network Plan, reviewing and re-writing the District Plan Design Guides, undertaking public space upgrades, and advocating for the city’s liveability during a period of significant growth and change.”

She led Dunedin City Council’s endorsement of the Global Street Design Guide, contributed to regeneration efforts in the Warehouse Precinct, and led the temporary transformation of The Octagon to inform and help fund future upgrades.

“By embracing sustainability and liveability in a bigger sense; architects, landscape architects, urban designers, builders, planners, stakeholders and citizens together can meaningfully respond to climate change while creating healthier and fairer communities.”