A researcher with a background in industrial and interaction design, Jacob’s work explores socially complex contexts, from health to ageing to safety. He brings design-based methods and tactics to interdisciplinary and collaborative research, often partnering with local communities and organisations. He has an emerging record of academic publishing and successful grants, developing support pathways for informal carers, examining ageing-in-place inequalities, and leading community-based initiatives.
Originally from Canberra, Australia, Jacob moved to Melbourne to train as an industrial designer, completing a bachelor’s degree with first-class honours and a PhD with RMIT University. He has since undertaken two research fellowships focusing on co-design approaches to health, ageing, and care. Moving abroad to the University of Edinburgh, he explored the value of informal care in later life and how emerging technologies could support it. Returning to RMIT, Jacob is now working with people experiencing long-term COVID and their health providers to build more inclusive models of care.
In his spare time, Jacob enjoy trips into the outdoors, finding local trails to cycle on, and photography ︎
☞ jacob.sheahan@rmit.edu.au ︎
☞ CV ︎
Originally from Canberra, Australia, Jacob moved to Melbourne to train as an industrial designer, completing a bachelor’s degree with first-class honours and a PhD with RMIT University. He has since undertaken two research fellowships focusing on co-design approaches to health, ageing, and care. Moving abroad to the University of Edinburgh, he explored the value of informal care in later life and how emerging technologies could support it. Returning to RMIT, Jacob is now working with people experiencing long-term COVID and their health providers to build more inclusive models of care.
In his spare time, Jacob enjoy trips into the outdoors, finding local trails to cycle on, and photography ︎
☞ jacob.sheahan@rmit.edu.au ︎
☞ CV ︎