Sara lectures in Product Design within Social Digital at the University of Dundee, leading modules on ways of making and the creation of products. She holds a Masters (Dist., 2012) in Design and BDes Hons degree (1st Class, 2010) in Textile Design, both completed at DJCAD, University of Dundee.

Employing an empathic design approach grounded in the understanding of people’s real-life experiences, Sara has a background in e-textiles, service and participatory design across both academic and commercial contexts. Her research focuses on co-creating soft technologies and tactile-digital artefacts to support health and wellbeing. Recent research includes her doctoral thesis 'E-textile Connections' (2021) which explored e-textiles for social connectedness in later life, and 'Crafting Connections', an on-going collaboration founded with Lucy Robertson (DJCAD and Norwich University of the Arts) considering both traditional and e-textile crafting as a means to support and investigate wellbeing factors.

Before commencing her PhD, Sara worked with BESiDE Research at University of Dundee to co-design wearable artefacts with care home residents to improve physical and social wellbeing, and the AHRC project ‘Listening to Voices’ (grant no. AH/M008181/1) where Sara joined people with lived experiences, creative practitioners and researchers to co-design a textual companion that explores and articulates the voice-hearing experience.

Sara's research interests are in the area of craft and design for improved health and wellbeing. She is particularly interested in the design of soft products that aid and support social interaction, participation and digital inclusion, encompassing materials, storytelling and interaction. She welcomes discussions and/or research collaborations in these areas.