About us

DoWell is a leader in developing creative, collaborative practices for social change to promote health and wellbeing throughout all stages of life. Conventional mental and physical health services often prioritise treatment. By contrast, our research seeks to promote preventive strategies, resilience and wellbeing through design and creativity. Creative approaches make an important contribution to people’s wellbeing. We seek to raise awareness that the design of environments, services, systems, interactions processes and products can have a significant impact on people’s quality of life.

At DoWell, we recognise and respond to people’s needs, wants, wishes and rights to health, wellbeing and equality. Our research seeks to enhance inclusion, agency and citizenship to empower individuals and communities and reduce stigma. Our aim is to give marginalised groups a voice in shaping their care from beginning to end, by involving them in all decision-making processes.

We co-design our research into social and societal aspects of health and wellbeing with the people who will benefit from our studies. We take a holistic, solution-focused and evidence-based approach that integrates all stakeholder perspectives. Our research contributes to national and international action on health and wellbeing, including disability, dementia and neurodiversity.

Doctoral study

PhD students are a key part of our research culture, and we are keen to support them. Recent and current research topics include research into stigma in mental health, co-designing exhibition displays for children with ADHD and ASD, well making and metal health, and many more.