About Professor Cathy Barnes
Cathy Barnes is Professor of Retail Innovation and is fascinated by consumer experience. She has researched and published widely on how to build products and experiences that delight consumers.
Professor Cathy Barnes is fascinated by the world of the consumer. She is constantly trying to understand how we, as people, interact with the world around us and what this means to improved products and daily experiences. Her research work has taken her on a journey from novel ideation techniques such as biomimetics (using nature to innovate) to sensory design. She is particularly interested in how we perceive the world through touch and what this means to why we buy products.
As the Professor of Retail Innovation at Leeds Beckett University, Cathy is responsible for leading the Retail Institute. She aims to build a new type of university institute where academic staff and industry work closely together to deliver new knowledge with real and immediate commercial impact.
Originally training as a draughtsperson, Cathy started her diverse career in engineering, working on nuclear submarines. After a first degree in Mechanical Engineering, she started her love affair with consumerism by six years in industry, managing factories making everything from cosmetics to crisp packets. Prior to joining Leeds Beckett University she spent 12 years at the University of Leeds researching the consumer experience and managing outreach departments working closely with industry. During this time she led on many research grants applications and has published widely in both academic journals and the trade press.
Research Interests
- Built a membership scheme for retail packaging sector including many of the leading FMCG companies
- Designed new touch experience for computer peripherals
- Developed new understanding of the consumer perception of freshness in retail environments for global food company
- Invented a new aerosol experience for global household product company
- Researched a new marketing and pricing strategy in the condom market
- Created new consumer perception tools and implemented throughout a global food company
- Supported global food company to understand consumer perception of biopolymers
- Advised on innovation strategy for new materials and design for large dairy
- Developed a novel innovation technique for a large petcare company
Selected Publications
Journal articles (7)
- Akay D; Chen X; Barnes C; Henson B (2012), ANFIS modeling for predicting affective responses to tactile textures. Human Factors and Ergonomics In Manufacturing, vol. 22 (3), p. 269-281.
https://doi.org/10.1002/hfm.20268 - Holt RJ; Barnes CJ (2011), Proactive design for Manufacture through decision analysis. International Journal of Product Development, vol. 13 (1), p. 67-83.
https://doi.org/10.1504/IJPD.2011.037595 - Shao F; Childs THC; Barnes CJ; Henson B (2010), Finite element simulations of static and sliding contact between a human fingertip and textured surfaces. Tribology International, vol. 43 (12), p. 2308-2316.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.triboint.2010.08.003 - Holt R; Barnes C (2010), Towards an integrated approach to "design for X": An agenda for decision-based DFX research. Research in Engineering Design, vol. 21 (2), p. 123-136.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00163-009-0081-6 - Shao F; Chen XJ; Barnes CJ; Henson B (2010), A novel tactile sensation measurement system for qualifying touch perception. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part H: Journal of Engineering in Medicine, vol. 224 (1), p. 97-105.
https://doi.org/10.1243/09544119JEIM658 - Chen X; Barnes CJ; Childs THC; Henson B; Shao F (2009), Materials' tactile testing and characterisation for consumer products' affective packaging design. Materials and Design, vol. 30 (10), p. 4299-4310.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2009.04.021 - Barnes C; Lillford SP (2009), Decision support for the design of affective products. Journal of Engineering Design, vol. 20 (5), p. 477-492.
https://doi.org/10.1080/09544820902875041
Chapters (1)
- Barnes CJ (2016) Omni-Channel Retail-Challenges and Opportunities for Packaging Innovation. In: Barnes CJ Integrating the Packaging and Product Experience in Food and Beverages: A Road-Map to Consumer Satisfaction. : Woodhead Publishing, pp. 59-76.
Conference contributions (1)
- Bevan N; Barnes CJ; Liu Z; Wei W (2016) Predicting Purchase Intent Using Pragmatic and Hedonic Kansei Engineering Scales: A Case Study of Kitchen Equipment in China Leeds, UK 20160831. : .
View Repository Record
Lectures (1)
- Barnes C (2012), Retail Innovation: Improving the Consumer Experience.
Show/hide all publications
Journal articles (20)
- Hoang D; Barnes C; Munroe O (2019), Management of traditional retail markets in the United Kingdom: comparative case studies. International Journal of Retail and Distribution Management
https://doi.org/10.1108/IJRDM-04-2018-0079
View Repository Record - Folley D; Wilkinson S; Barnes C; Scott PR; Thorton Q (2013), Discreet event simulation used within the food and drink industry. IMSCI 2013 - 7th International Multi-Conference on Society, Cybernetics and Informatics, Proceedings
- Wilkinson S; Folley D; Barnes C; Scott PR; Thornton Q (2013), Teaching GHG reduction for the food industry to adult learners using blended learning. Proceedings of the European Conference on e-Learning, ECEL
- Akay D; Chen X; Barnes C; Henson B (2012), ANFIS modeling for predicting affective responses to tactile textures. Human Factors and Ergonomics In Manufacturing, vol. 22 (3), p. 269-281.
https://doi.org/10.1002/hfm.20268 - Holt RJ; Barnes CJ (2011), Proactive design for Manufacture through decision analysis. International Journal of Product Development, vol. 13 (1), p. 67-83.
https://doi.org/10.1504/IJPD.2011.037595 - Shao F; Childs THC; Barnes CJ; Henson B (2010), Finite element simulations of static and sliding contact between a human fingertip and textured surfaces. Tribology International, vol. 43 (12), p. 2308-2316.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.triboint.2010.08.003 - Holt R; Barnes C (2010), Towards an integrated approach to "design for X": An agenda for decision-based DFX research. Research in Engineering Design, vol. 21 (2), p. 123-136.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00163-009-0081-6 - Shao F; Chen XJ; Barnes CJ; Henson B (2010), A novel tactile sensation measurement system for qualifying touch perception. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part H: Journal of Engineering in Medicine, vol. 224 (1), p. 97-105.
https://doi.org/10.1243/09544119JEIM658 - Chen X; Shao F; Barnes CJ; Childs T; Henson B (2009), Exploring relationships between touch perception and surface physical properties. International Journal of Design, vol. 3 (2), p. 67-76.
View Repository Record - Chen X; Barnes CJ; Childs THC; Henson B; Shao F (2009), Materials' tactile testing and characterisation for consumer products' affective packaging design. Materials and Design, vol. 30 (10), p. 4299-4310.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2009.04.021 - Barnes C; Lillford SP (2009), Decision support for the design of affective products. Journal of Engineering Design, vol. 20 (5), p. 477-492.
https://doi.org/10.1080/09544820902875041 - Barnes C; Childs T; Henson B; Lillford S (2008), Kansei engineering toolkit for the packaging industry. TQM Journal, vol. 20 (4), p. 372-388.
https://doi.org/10.1108/17542730810881357 - Ali Khatami Firouzabadi SM; Henson B; Barnes C (2008), A multiple stakeholders' approach to strategic selection decisions. Computers and Industrial Engineering, vol. 54 (4), p. 851-865.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cie.2007.10.015 - Delin J; Sharoff S; Lillford S; Barnes C (2007), Linguistic support for concept selection decisions. Artificial Intelligence for Engineering Design, Analysis and Manufacturing: AIEDAM, vol. 21 (2), p. 123-135.
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0890060407070187 - Henson B; Choo D; Barnes C; Childs T (2006), A semantic differential study of combined visual and tactile stimuli for package design. Contemporary Ergonomics 2006
- Henson B; Barnes C; Livesey R; Childs T; Ewart K (2006), Affective consumer requirements: A case study of moisturizer packaging. Concurrent Engineering Research and Applications, vol. 14 (3), p. 187-196.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1063293X06068358 - Barnes CJ; Childs THC; Henson B; Southee CH (2004), Surface finish and touch - A case study in a new human factors tribology. Wear, vol. 257 (7-8), p. 740-750.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wear.2004.03.018 - Barnes CJ; Jared GEM; Swift KG (2004), Decision support for sequence generation in an assembly oriented design environment. Robotics and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing, vol. 20 (4), p. 289-300.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rcim.2003.10.013 - Li D; Mckay A; De Pennington A; Barnes C (2001), A Web-based tool and a heuristic method for cooperation of manufacturing supply chain decisions. Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, vol. 12 (5-6), p. 433-453.
https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1012296203032 - Li D; Barnes C; Axtell C; McKay A; De Pennington A (2001), An intelligent decision support tool for supply chain planning. Proceedings of SPIE-The International Society for Optical Engineering, vol. 4565
https://doi.org/10.1117/12.443117
Chapters (1)
- Barnes CJ (2016) Omni-Channel Retail-Challenges and Opportunities for Packaging Innovation. In: Barnes CJ Integrating the Packaging and Product Experience in Food and Beverages: A Road-Map to Consumer Satisfaction. : Woodhead Publishing, pp. 59-76.
Conference contributions (3)
- Barnes CJ; Nath P (2016) Tactile Marketing - From practice to theory (and back again) Valencia 20160321. : .
View Repository Record - Bevan N; Barnes CJ; Liu Z; Wei W (2016) Predicting Purchase Intent Using Pragmatic and Hedonic Kansei Engineering Scales: A Case Study of Kitchen Equipment in China Leeds, UK 20160831. : .
View Repository Record - Barnes CJ; Nath P (2016) Touch or no Touch: Influence of Product Characteristics and Touch Quality Oslo 20160524. : .
Conference proceedings (peer reviewed) (7)
- Bevan N; Lui Z; Barnes CJ; Hassenzahl, M; Wei W (2016) Comparison of Kansei Engineering and AttrakDiff to Evaluate Kitchen Products. In: ACM CHI 2016: Conference for Human-Computer Interaction San Jose, California 20160507. : , pp. .
https://doi.org/10.1145/2851581.2892407
View Repository Record - Hoang D; Nath P; Barnes CJ (2016) The mediating role of perceived fairness in consumers' response to post-purchase 'out of stock' in an online grocery context. In: BAM2016 Conference Newcastle, UK 20160906. : , pp. .
View Repository Record - Barnes CJ; Hoang D (2015) Public entrepreneurship and the management of traditional retail markets. In: Oxford Retail Futures Conference Oxford 20151208. : , pp. .
View Repository Record - Sedgwick J; Henson B; Barnes C (2003) Sensual Surfaces: Engaging Consumers Through Surface Textures. In: . : , pp. 148-149.
- Barnes C; Southee C; Henson B (2003) The Impact of Affective Design of Product Packaging upon Consumer Purchase Decisions. In: . : , pp. 134-135.
- Barnes CJ; Jared GEM; Swift KG (2003) A pragmatic approach to interactive assembly sequence evaluation. In: . : , pp. 541-550.
https://doi.org/10.1243/095440503321628206 - Baxter J; Henderson M; Barnes C; Bourdo T; De Pennington A; Wells V (2001) Global engineering design team (GEDT) - A business view on structuring undergraduate projects. In: American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Design Engineering Division Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA 20010909. : , pp. 123-131.
Lectures (1)
- Barnes C (2012), Retail Innovation: Improving the Consumer Experience.
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