About Colin

Colin Gray

Me and the Little Guy

My name’s Colin Gray and I’m currently studying for a Doctorate with the University of Abertay Dundee. This website is the story of that journey.

My Digital Logbook

I remember going along to my induction around week 2 and being told to buy a small, black covered 150 page book which would stay with me for the next 3 years. Write down everything you do, and everything you find out – it’ll cover your Personal Development Planning and we’ll need it at the end of the 3 years, or you wont be able to graduate.

Well, these days I’ve pretty much forgotten how to write by hand, and I can’t remember the last time I managed to keep a notebook for longer than a month before leaving it somewhere. So, in the interests of actually being allowed to submit my PhD, you’re now reading my digital, 150 page, black bound logbook. You’ve just got to use a little imagination…

What I’m Researching

My PhD is in the area of Business Innovation Through the Application of Design Processes. It’s a Design in Action project, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research council, and the main aim is to help small businesses to innovate and improve their practises through design and disruptive thinking.

Over the next three years we’ll be running Chiasma events with small groups of businesses in a range of sectors. The events intend to help each business come up with innovative ideas for growth through collaboration and ideas sharing – knowledge transfer, for those that like the technicalities. They may come up with a new product, a new service, or even a brand new way of working, but all should result from the shared knowledge and the disruptive thinking that the Chiasmas are designed to encourage.

The exact format of the Chiasma events has yet to be decided, but it’s likely that they’ll involve 2 or 3 days worth of activities, possibly crammed into 24 or 48 hours of time. Figuring that out is all part of the process.

Design in Action

Design in Action is a nationwide project, with hubs across the UK. Our section of it is led by Dundee University, and we have partner universities across the country, in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee. There are 10 PhD students involved in the project, including me, so we’ve got a ready made research community, and that’s part of what makes it a great project to be involved in.

Design in Action aims to make an impact on the Scottish Economy, helping small business to design products, services and processes that are aimed at the customers of the future – not today.

Me Elsewhere

I’m a bit more advanced of years than your average PhD student, and have been working for a fair few years so far. So, here are the other places you’ll find me around the web.

I’m a Web Designer by trade, and do Web Development, Internet Marketing and SEO through my Business, Wild Trails Media. I also still teach with Edinburgh Napier University, mainly in online and distance learning, helping academics improve their teaching practise using technology enhanced learning.

Outside of that, I couldn’t live without my mountain bike. You’ll find ramblings on that over at Mountain Bikes Apart. And I also do a bit of work in Podcasting, and help out The Podcast Host from time to time.

Get In Touch

If you’re interested in my research, or the project in general, just drop me a line through this blog. Leave a comment below, Google+ me, find me on twitter through Wild Trails or education, or use the Contact Me page. It would be great to hear from you.

Thanks for visiting!

colinmcgray

Colin Gray is a web designer, internet marketer, small business development advisor, elearning lecturer and current PhD student. Find out more about Colin Gray, or contact him on Google+

Leave a Reply