Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Joan Love
Senior Lecturer
Joan became a Senior Lecturer and Level Coordinator on BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design in 2001. Her tutoring draws heavily on design inspiration found in the overlap between fine art, sculpture, music, literature, film and the sensory experience of interior space.
Joan's expertise is in the advancement of autism-friendly design assisting future professionals to shape responsive spatial environments. This is an ongoing pedagogic project, with ten local SEND schools and colleges and residential accommodation. She has undertaken specialist consultancy work for: Leeds City Council, Home Group, JLL Consulting, Universal Design Group, TOG, Argent.
Joan is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2015), a Member of Interior Educators (2009) and a Member of LSA Autism Research Lab (2019).
Current Teaching
BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design:
- IAD4.1 Design Fundamentals
- IAD4.2 Sculpting Interior Space
- IAD4.4 Interiors Reinvented
- IAD4.5 Interiors Reinvented: Design
Research Interests
Joan believes that human-centred design is crucial when creating enabling, inclusive spaces. Current autism-friendly design research involves the cross-disciplinary inputs of a specialist occupational therapist and advanced sensory integration practitioner and a senior behaviour analyst, to deepen knowledge about the needs of autistic users.
Joan's neurodiversity and the built environment research uncovers new information in the form of ‘ten spatial transitioning platforms' and 'ten sensory living themes' relating to behaviour-informed design.
Joan's research outputs were submitted to:
- The 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF)
- The 2021 Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF) (Public and Community Engagement Narrative/Case Study)
- The 2023 Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF)
Joan has contributed towards:
- PAS 6463: 2022 Design for the mind – Neurodiversity and the built environment – Guide, The British Standards Institution
Please read Joan’s latest article on The Conversation:
Ask Me About
- Built environment
- Neurodiversity
- Autism
- Design
- Equality and inclusion