Personal profile
Biography
I am an Assistant Professor with a background in textile design, marketing and entrepreneurship based at the School of Textiles and Design in the Scottish Borders.
At The School of Textiles and Design, Heriot-Watt University I am a lecturer and researcher working across the design courses at both Undergraduate and Postgraduate level. I am Global Programme Director of Studies for our Postgraduate taught courses and programme director for our MA in Fashion and Textile Design
and MSc in Fashion and Textile Management.
Alongside this I am the SoTD Public Engagement Academic Lead, working with colleagues and the public to facilitate university outreach and events.
My research explores the facilitation of creative workshops for wellbeing, which utilise e-textiles and waste materials to understand how technology and waste can be used as a resource to create and repair products. My research interests are in e-textiles, sonic textiles, craft, entrepreneurship, marketing and wellbeing. Additionally, I am an MA and PhD supervisor in design. If you would like to discuss doing your MA or PhD at SoTD I would love to hear from you.
Research interests
- e-textiles
- sonic textiles
- craft
- sustainable strategies
- entrepreneurship
- marketing
- health and wellbeing
Research Group Contact Details
I am involved in a variety of collaborative projects/bids - see details of those I can discuss below:
Interactive Waste with a fellow researcher at the University of Dundee on a BA Leverhume Small Research Grant. This project explores how the creation of Interactive textiles and e-textiles can utilise more sustainable practices by unpicking existing projects and working with a network of e-textile researchers to understand the use of different materials as alternatives to traditional e-textile components.
Rubbish Robots Royal Academy of Engineering Ingenious Public Engagement Award - with Heriot-Watt Researchers at the National Robotarium exploring outreach opportunities working with schools on how to create robots from waste materials.
Healthy Organisations in a place-based Ecosystem Scotland (HOPES) Green Transition Ecosystem (GTE) UKRI, AHRC, Design Museum Future Observatory award. This project explores through design research the NHS Scotland Climate Emergency and Sustainability Strategy, which sets out plans for NHS Scotland to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and impact on the environment, adapt to climate change and to better contribute to the United Nation’s sustainable development goals. You can follow this project here: linkedin.com/design-hopes/
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
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SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
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SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
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SDG 13 Climate Action
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Cianalas: How Scottish dementia friendly communities shaped design for wellbeing research
Robertson, L. & Lim, C. S. C., 8 Jun 2026.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Does AI Care? A Dialogue with ChatGPT on the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
Robertson, L. & Kernohan, G., 28 Nov 2025, The Design of Care. Routledge, p. 208-221 14 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
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Interactive Waste: Exploring issues of waste in interactive textiles
Nevay, S., Robertson, L. & Lim, C. S. C., 4 Mar 2025, TEI '25: Proceedings of the Nineteenth International Conference on Tangible, Embedded, and Embodied Interaction. Association for Computing Machinery, 138Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
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100 years of speculative women’s healthcare
Wareing, L., Robertson, L. & Ballie, J., 2024, A 100 Years of Care: Design-based explorations of a 100 years of care journeys. Bremner, C., Rodgers, P., Innella, G. & Magee, J. (eds.). Ulster University, p. 30-31Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
Open AccessFile71 Downloads (Pure) -
Reflections beyond the thesis—exploring wellbeing, emotional work and research identity following a PhD
Robertson, L. & Lim, C. S. C., 1 Nov 2024, In: Design Journal. 27, 6, p. 1081-1100 20 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile
Prizes
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Venture Postgraduate Entrepreneurial Award
Robertson, L. (Recipient) & Nevay, S. (Recipient), 28 Feb 2018
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
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DRS 2026: Edinburgh
Robertson, L. (Speaker)
2026Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in conference
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Lower Saxony - Scotland Joint Forum - Panel
Robertson, L. (Speaker)
20 Nov 2023Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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Metamorphosis
Robertson, L. (Organiser), Winton, E. (Organiser), Chapman, S. (Invited speaker) & Sungwarn, C. (Invited speaker)
2023 → …Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in Festival or Exhibition
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USE-LESS workshops, industry vists and mill tour
Robertson, L. (Speaker)
11 Nov 2023 → 14 Nov 2023Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Hosting a visiting group
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Hochschule Hannover - University of Applied Sciences and Arts
Robertson, L. (Visiting Researcher)
19 Jun 2023 → 21 Jun 2023Activity: Visiting an external institution › Visiting an external academic institution
Press/Media
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Metamorphosis Exhibition Great Tapestry of Scotland
14/01/24
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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Heriot-Watt fashion graduate Carina Pratt to exhibit Mary Queen of Scots designs in New York
5/12/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Teaching
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Out-of-this-world designs to feature in postgraduate degree show at Heriot-Watt School of Textiles and Design
14/08/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Teaching
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Landfill and ocean waste help to inspire new design show
23/01/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Teaching