Chris Elsden

Chris Elsden is a scholar in Service Design at the Design Informatics Institute, University of Edinburgh. He is currently a Chancellor’s Fellow in Service Design and the Co-Director and Academic Lead of the MSc in Service Management and Design at the Edinburgh Futures Institute (EFI). With a background in sociology, he has extensive research experience in the human experiences and societal implications of data-driven services. His research focuses on Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), design research, blockchain applications, and FinTech. Chris employs creative and qualitative research methods, emphasizing speculative and design futures to explore the complex relationships between people and technology. He has worked on numerous interdisciplinary projects, advancing data-driven innovation in the creative industries and financial technology sectors.

• 2021–Present·University of Edinburgh·Chancellor’s Fellow (Service Design)
  • Leads the MSc in Service Management and Design within the Edinburgh Futures Institute (EFI), teaching related courses and supervising projects.
  • Contributes to the "Data and Design Lab," supporting innovation and co-creation within EFI.
  • Research focuses on data-driven services, FinTech, and blockchain technology design approaches.
• 2017–2021·University of Edinburgh Design Informatics·Postdoctoral Research Fellow
  • Participated in the AHRC-funded “Creative Informatics” project.
• 2017–2019·Co-Create Team, Northumbria University·Postdoctoral Research Fellow
  • Focused on co-creation and innovation methods.

• 2013–2017·Newcastle University Open Lab·PhD
  • Specialized in research within the Human-Computer Interaction field, focusing on personal informatics and design research methods.