Shital Desai
Assistant Professor, Department of Design
Shital Desai is an assistant professor in the Department of Design, with research interests in human centred design, interaction design and embodied intuitive interaction. Her current research focusses on interaction design in emerging technologies such as mixed reality technologies for older adults and children. Prior to joining York University in 2019, Dr. Desai was an AGE-WELL research Fellow from 2017 to 2019. She was awarded her PhD in interaction design from Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Australia, and has taught courses at QUT in the areas of interaction design, culture and design, design capstone, and research methods. She is a recipient of several awards and grants, including an Australian Postgraduate Award, QUT Excellence Award, AGE-WELL Innovator of the Future, an AGE-WELL Catalyst grant, a Design Research Society scholarship,.
Dr. Desai is currently affiliated with the Inclusive Media & Design Centre at Ryerson University and the Dementia Aging Technology & Engagement lab at the University Health Network’s Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, where she collaborates on various inclusive and accessible design research projects. She represents North America on World Health Organization’s Dementia Knowledge Exchange peer review network, where she shares her expert knowledge on dementia and technology in strengthening policies, service planning, and health and social care systems for dementia. She is an associate member of VISTA and YU-CARE, research centres based at York University.
