Personal statement

Dr Steven Birnie is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Design, Manufacturing & Engineering Management (DMEM) at the University of Strathclyde. He brings over 23 years of experience in design and innovation, having transitioned from industry to academia in 2023.

During his professional career, Dr Birnie received numerous international accolades, including the Good Design Award, IDSA Award, and Scottish Design Award, and is the inventor of 45 granted US patents. Prior to joining academia, he spent nearly 20 years with NCR Corporation, a global leader in self-service technologies, where he led the design, usability, and accessibility of hardware solutions and championed the organisation’s early focus on sustainability. He continues to maintain strong industry links.

Dr Birnie’s academic research sits at the intersection of design, manufacturing, innovation, and sustainability, with a particular focus on the circular economy and engineering net zero. He leads teaching in Embodiment Design, Sustainable Design and Manufacture, Design Methods, and Multi-Disciplinary Perspectives of Sustainable Development, and supervises doctoral research on the role of Industry 4.0 in advancing the circular economy.

He was Principal Investigator on the recently completed £376,171 SPS-funded ExtendPlus programme, which analysed and baselined the carbon output of 288 SMEs in the Greater Glasgow region. He is also an active member of DMEM’s Design Research Group, contributing expertise in design education, design management, and sustainable product development.

Through this unique combination of industry experience and academic insight, Dr Birnie advances the integration of sustainable development principles into both practice and education, strengthening the University of Strathclyde’s role as a leader in design-led innovation for a sustainable future.