Rebecca Oates
(she/her)

Research student

I initially studied Furniture Design & Construction and have 20+ years professional experience in product and commercial interior design. I studied Psychology at Birkbeck University, London, before moving to Cardiff to complete my MSc and am now a PhD student working in the School of Psychology and CUBRIC. My research combines design with psychology and seeks to better understand sensory sensitivities, specifically in relation to the built environment.

Sensory hypersensitivity can be described as sensitivity to stimuli across one or more sensory modalities which can cause discomfort or overwhelm, or be soothing and enjoyable, depending on the individual. It is associated with areas of neurodiversity and a number of health and neurological conditions, but is also reported by many without a clinical diagnosis. People who have sensory hypersensitivities can find every day tasks such as shopping or visiting health and education settings challenging, and their coping mechanisms are often effortful.

My PhD explores the mechanisms, triggers and soothers of sensory sensitivity and combines neuroimaging with qualitative research. Starting with mechanisms, I am interested in how sensory sensitivity flucuates within individuals and the potential neural correlates of this - for example, across the menstrual cycle and in changing mood states in Bipolar Disorder. My research will also explore which specific architectural features are most uncomfortable for people who are sensory sensitive, and which have soothing or even therapeutic properties. I will be researching in secure care settings (adult prisons, young offenders institutes and psychiatric units), using both quantitive and qualitative methods to explore people’s lived experience of sensory sensitivity in these environments.

I am passionate about improving the inclusion of disabled, neurodivergent, older and sensory sensitive people - people whose needs are often neglected in a trend-led design world. Working with academics and disability charities, my design work is research-led and I am a subject matter expert for inclusive design.