David Anthony Parkinson PhD, FHEA
Research Portfolio


Knowledge Exchange and Impact


01. Nym: AI Storytelling
02. The Science of Storytelling: Podcast
03. StoryCraft Pro: Storytelling Card Tool


Key Publications

01. Towards a Storytelling Pedagogy
02. Authentic Peer Assessment
03. Authentic Video Feedback
04. Establishing Trust through Storytelling
05. Storytelling at the Design Pitch
06. Unlock the Potentialities of Communities
07. Engaging Design Pitches
08. Storytelling Impact-Approach Framework
09. Design Process and Organisational Strategy
10. Designer Storytelling


Teaching and Learning

Click here to see the blog site I manage for our award winning product design students.


Bio

I’m an academic specialising in storytelling’s role in new product development (NPD), with over a decade of research into how narrative drives early-stage innovation. My work led to a widely recognised framework and card-based tool that helps NPD teams apply storytelling strategically. At Northumbria University, I embed these insights into the BA (Hons) Product Design curriculum. I have also led postgraduate research in the Department of Design, Arts and Creative Industries for a three year period. Currently, I’m collaborating with industry to develop a digital version of my tool, championing storytelling as a powerful methodology for driving creativity and innovation in design.

Explore the galleries to the right to learn more about my key research endeavors.


Contact
david.a.parkinson@northumbria.ac.uk

09.Design Process and Organisational Strategy

Publication
Book Chapter
2012

Design Research Society 2012: Bi-Annual Conference

Bangkok, Thailand
The Design Research Society
Link


In my research, I explored the relationship between design process and organisational strategy through a storytelling lens. I began by reviewing literature on storytelling in society, then examined how designers and strategists apply storytelling in their fields. By comparing these perspectives, I uncovered shared principles, particularly the human-centred focus on building relationships and constructing identities. Both fields value emotional resonance, often achieved through characterisation. I argue that stories emerging from collaborations between designers and organisations can impact employees by fostering community, constructing meaning, and driving change. Viewing these collaborations through storytelling offers deeper insights into design’s organisational influence.