Trevor Vaugh
Design Innovation, ALL Institute, Mi:Lab
Biography
Trevor Vaugh is an expert in Human-Centred Design, Innovation, and Strategy, currently serving as an Assistant Professor of Strategic Design at Maynooth University. He recently commenced a secondment with the Department of Public Expenditure NPD Delivery & Reform. In his role as the Public Service Design Lead, he drives strategic design initiatives, focusing primarily on developing the ambitious 'Life Events' programme.
Trevor has served on Ireland's Public Service Innovation Advisory Board and currently co-chairs the 'Design in Government' expert working group. In this capacity, he led the development of a set of Design Principles for the Government of Ireland and, in 2023, spearheaded the delivery of the Government's Action Plan for Designing Better Public Services – a roadmap for embedding design in the Public Service.
Driven by a desire to facilitate institutional change through design, Trevor founded the Maynooth Innovation Lab (Mi:Lab) in 2021. Funded by the Higher Education Authority (HEA), this project was established to tackle Higher Education challenges using innovative design methodologies. Mi:Lab has collaborated with educational institutions in Ireland and internationally, making a significant contribution to the field of design in higher education.
In 2021, Trevor co-authored "ARRIVE: A Design Innovation Framework to Deliver Breakthrough Services, Products, and Experiences," published by Routledge. He has been recognized as an expert in the acclaimed RTÉ series 'The Big Life Fix', presented the 'Science to the Rescue' documentary for Science Foundation Ireland, and played a key role in developing AI voice technology for veteran journalist Charlie Bird. Before entering academia, Trevor achieved considerable success in healthcare innovation, securing over 50 patents, receiving various innovation awards, and earning a spot among the Cleveland Clinic's top 10 innovations of 2009.
Trevor is a highly respected advisor in both the public and private sectors, providing insights on the critical role of design as a tool for discovery, transformation, and as a mediator between humanity and technology. His research spans design, strategy, and anthropology, with a particular focus on helping organisations navigate transitions. In all his academic and professional activities, Trevor advocates for the interdisciplinary nature of design, applying design thinking and action research in areas such as government, education, policy, housing, and healthcare.
Research Interests
(a) The role of strategic design in developing radical innovation
(b) Design thinking as a core organisational competency
(c) Rapid experimentation and prototype development
(d) Design as an agent of liminality, Liminality as an underutilised opportunity for change initiatives.
Research Projects
Book Chapter
Year | Publication | |
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2018 | Vaugh, T, Moles, J, Chambers, C.F (2018) 'Lessons learned: Sports coach mentor as design thinker' In: Learning to Mentor in Sports Coaching. London : Routledge. | |
2018 | Cuthbert, Brian and Vaugh, Trevor and Chambers, Fiona C (2018) 'What is design thinking?: A case study of using design thinking in a sports coaching context' In: : Routledge. | |
2018 | Vaugh, Trevor and Moles, Joanne and Chambers, Fiona C (2018) 'Lessons learned: Sports coach mentor as design thinker' In: : Routledge. | |
2018 | CUTBERTH, B., VAUGH, T., CHAMBERS, F.C. (2018) 'What is design thinking? A case study of using design thinking in a sports coaching context' In: Learning to Mentor in Sports Coaching. London : Routledge. [Link] |
Documentary
Year | Publication | |
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2021 | RTÉ / Kite Entertainment / Science Foundation Ireland (2021) Science To The Rescue. Ireland: [Documentary] [Link] | |
2020 | RTÉ / Kite Entertainment (2020) 'The Big Life Fix' Season 1 Episode 1. [Documentary] | |
2020 | RTÉ / Kite Entertainment (2020) 'The Big Life Fix' Season 1 Episode 2. [Documentary] | |
2020 | RTÉ / Kite Entertainment (2020) 'The Big Life Fix' Season 1 Episode 5. [Documentary] |
Peer Reviewed Journal
Year | Publication | |
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2022 | Trevor Vaugh and Threase Finnegan-Kessie and Amalia White and Síofra Baker and Aldo Valencia (2022) 'Introducing Strategic Design in Education (SDxE): an approach to navigating complexity and ambiguity at the micro, meso and macro layers of Higher Education Institutions'. 41 (1):116-131. [Link] [DOI] | |
2021 | Aldo Valencia and Matthew Lievesley and Trevor Vaugh (2021) 'Four Mindsets of Designer-Entrepreneurs'. 24 (5):705-726. [Link] [DOI] [Full-Text] | |
2020 | Finnegan-Kessie, Threase and Donnellan, Peter and Oswald, Teghan and Vaugh, Trevor (2020) 'Socially Distanced Higher Education: Student and Staff Experiences of Teaching and Learning During the Covid-19 Lockdown'. 12 (3). | |
2020 | Finnegan-Kessie, Threase and Vaugh, Trevor and Donnellan, Peter and Oswald, Teghan (2020) 'Socially Distanced Higher Education: Redesigning Progress'. 12 (3). [Full-Text] | |
2020 | Vaugh, Trevor and Finnegan-Kessie, Threase and Donnellan, Peter and Oswald, Teghan (2020) 'The potential of design thinking to enable change in higher education'. 12 (3). [Full-Text] | |
2020 | Marder, Ian and Vaugh, Trevor and Dempsey, Shauna and Kenny, Catriona and Savage, Erika and Weiner, Ruair\'\i (2020) 'Participatory mechanisms for reviewing and redesigning curricula with students'. . [Full-Text] | |
2018 | Cuthbert, Brian and Vaugh, Trevor and Chambers, Fiona C (2018) 'What is design thinking?'. . | |
2018 | Ryan, Martin and Vaugh, Trevor (2018) 'Design thinking, the driver of innovation in Irish industry: An Interview with Denis Hayes, Managing Director of the IRDG'. :46-51. [Full-Text] | |
2018 | Vaugh, Trevor and Moles, Joanne and Chambers, Fiona C (2018) 'Sports coach mentor as design thinker'. . | |
2020 | Threase Finnegan-Kessie, Trevor Vaugh, Peter Donnellan, Teghan Oswald (2020) 'Socially Distanced Higher Education: Redesigning Progress'. All Ireland Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (AISHE-J), 12 (3). [Link] [Full-Text] | |
2020 | Trevor Vaugh, Threase Finnegan-Kessie, Peter Donnellan, Teghan Oswald (2020) 'THE POTENTIAL OF DESIGN THINKING TO ENABLE CHANGE IN HIGHER EDUCATION'. All Ireland Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (AISHE-J), 12 (3). [Link] [Full-Text] | |
2019 | Keirnan, A., Robbins, P., Devitt, F., Vaugh, T., Ryan, M. and Koffel, R., (2019) 'How Irish design consultancies align with Ireland’s Innovation 2020 priorities: a preliminary study'. ITERATIONS Design Research and Practice Review, (07). [DOI] [Full-Text] | |
2019 | Ryan, M. and Vaugh, T. (2019) 'Design-driven Entrepreneurship An interview with four Irish designer-founders'. ITERATIONS Design Research and Practice Review, (07). [DOI] [Full-Text] | |
2019 | Ryan, M., Vaugh, T (2019) 'Design thinking, the driver of innovation in Irish Industry An interview with Denis Hayes, Managing Director of the IRDG'. ITERATIONS Design Research and Practice Review, (07). [DOI] [Full-Text] | |
2015 | Vaugh, Trevor and Ryan, Martin (2015) 'Getting the right design or getting the design right; An observation of 18 projects progressing through a structured design thinking process'. 1 (1):14-21. [Full-Text] |
Conference Publication
Year | Publication | |
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2019 | Trevor vaugh, Threase Kessie (2019) INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ENGAGING PEDAGOGY Maynooth University Innovation Lab: Fostering Sustainability in the Higher Education Sector through Design-Thinking –A Practice Paper. *Awarded Best Paper | |
2018 | Trevor Vaugh (2018) Academic Design Management Conference ADMC18 . In: Carole Bilson eds. A Design-Led Approach to Innovation in the Irish Food Industry [Link] | |
2017 | Devitt.F, Ryan.M, Robbins.P, Vaugh.T (2017) The ISPIM Innovation Summit – Building the Innovation Century . In: The ISPIM eds. Unlocking Design Thinking’s Potential Melbourne, Australia, 10/12/2017- 13/12/2017 [Full-Text] |
Published Report
Year | Publication | |
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2021 | Trevor Vaugh; Threase Finnegan Kessie; Amalia White; Siofra Baker; Aldo Valencia (2021) Thrown in the Deep End. Mi:Lab, . [Link] |
Conference Contribution
Radio Presentation
Year | Publication | |
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2020 | RTE Radio 1 (2020) The History of Personal Protection Equipment. Ireland: [Radio Presentation] [Link] [Full-Text] |
Blog
Year | Publication | |
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2017 | Trevor Vaugh (2017) Reflecting on the first three years of the MSc in Design innovation at Maynooth University. [Blog] [Link] |
Technical Publication
Year | Publication | |
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2016 | Butler, John and Bonadio, Frank and Vaugh, Trevor and McManus, Ronan Bernard and MacNally, Shane Joseph and Deegan, Catherine and Cuschieri, Alfred and Reid, Alan (2016) Surgical device. [Technical Publication] | |
2015 | Bonadio, Frank and Butler, John and Vaugh, Trevor and MacNally, Shane Joseph and Reid, Alan (2015) Wound retractor device. [Technical Publication] | |
2015 | Shibley, Kirk Anthony and Bonadio, Frank and Vaugh, Trevor and MacNally, Shane Joseph and Halpin, Lucy Dolores and Williams, Stephen (2015) Pneumoperitoneum device. [Technical Publication] | |
2014 | Bonadio, Frank and Vaugh, Trevor and McManus, Ronan B and Macnally, Shane J and Butler, John (2014) Instrument access device. [Technical Publication] | |
2014 | Shibley, Kirk Anthony and Bonadio, Frank and Vaugh, Trevor and MacNally, Shane Joseph and Halpin, Lucy Dolores and Williams, Stephen (2014) Pneumoperitoneum device. [Technical Publication] | |
2014 | Butler, John and Vaugh, Trevor and Bonadio, Frank (2014) Wound retractor system. [Technical Publication] | |
2014 | Bonadio, Frank and Halpin, LD and MacNally, Shane and Shibley, KA and Vaugh, Trevor and Williams, S (2014) Method for performing surgical laparoscopic procedure on uterus of patient by surgeon, involves inflating bag to create artificial pneumoperitoneum that extends abdomen and provides additional working and viewing space. [Technical Publication] [Full-Text] | |
2014 | Bonadio, Frank and Halpin, LD and MacNally, Shane and Shibley, KA and Vaugh, Trevor and Williams, S (2014) Inflatable artificial pneumoperitoneum bag has length and width, where artificial pneumoperitoneum bag neck portion is provided with first end and second end, where first end forms bag opening. [Technical Publication] [Full-Text] | |
2014 | Bonadio, Frank and Butler, John and Deegan, Catherine and Vaugh, Trevor (2014) Wound retractor. [Technical Publication] | |
2014 | Bonadio, Frank and Vaugh, Trevor and Butler, John (2014) Wound retractor device. [Technical Publication] | |
2013 | Bonadio, Frank and Vaugh, Trevor (2013) Instrument access device for use during laparoscopic surgery to facilitate instrument access to insufflated abdominal cavity has instrument receiver with cannula that extends in use through incision protected by retractor member. [Technical Publication] [Full-Text] | |
2013 | Shibley, KA and Bonadio, Frank and Vaugh, Trevor and MacNally, Shane and Halpin, LD and Williams, S (2013) Pneumoperitoneum device for tissue isolation and/or extraction in laparoscopic procedure, has inflatable bag having opening to receive tissue. [Technical Publication] [Full-Text] | |
2013 | Bonadio, Frank and Vaugh, Trevor and McManus, Ronan B and Macnally, Shane J and Butler, John (2013) Instrument access device. [Technical Publication] | |
2013 | Butler, John and Vaugh, Trevor and Bonadio, Frank and Deegan, Catherine and Macnally, Shane J (2013) Apparatus for inserting a surgical device at least partially through a wound opening. [Technical Publication] | |
2012 | Bonadio, Frank and Butler, John and Vaugh, Trevor and MacNally, Shane Joseph and Reid, Alan (2012) Wound retractor device. [Technical Publication] | |
2012 | Shibley, Kirk Anthony and Bonadio, Frank and Vaugh, Trevor and MacNally, Shane Joseph (2012) Pneumoperitoneum device. [Technical Publication] | |
2012 | Bonadio, Frank and Butler, John and Vaugh, Trevor and Macnally, Shane J (2012) Instrument access device. [Technical Publication] | |
2011 | Bonadio, Frank and Butler, John and Deegan, Catherine and Vaugh, Trevor (2011) Wound retractor. [Technical Publication] | |
2011 | Butler, John and Vaugh, Trevor and Bonadio, Frank (2011) Wound retractor system. [Technical Publication] | |
2011 | Bonadio, Frank and Vaugh, Trevor and McManus, Ronan and MacNally, Shane (2011) Instrument access device used for laparoscopic surgery and surgical procedures, has instrument receiver that receives instrument, and connector extends between proximal element and instrument receiver. [Technical Publication] [Full-Text] | |
2010 | Bonadio, Frank and Vaugh, Trevor and McManus, Ronan and MacNally, Shane (2010) Instrument access device for instrument access system, has connector member connecting proximal member with instrument seals, where proximal member and connector member are configured to retain proximal end of retractor member. [Technical Publication] [Full-Text] | |
2010 | Bonadio, Frank and Vaugh, Trevor and McManus, Ronan B and Macnally, Shane J and Butler, John (2010) Instrument access system. [Technical Publication] | |
2010 | Bonadio, Frank and Vaugh, Trevor and McManus, Ronan B and Macnally, Shane J and Mulhall, Michael (2010) Instrument Access Device. [Technical Publication] | |
2009 | Bonadio, Frank and Vaugh, Trevor (2009) Device. [Technical Publication] | |
2009 | Bonadio, Frank and Vaugh, Trevor (2009) Holding device for use during eg laparoscopic procedure, has two gripping units, where one of gripping unit grips organ and other gripping unit mounts holding device to desired location, and device is mountable to interior of wall. [Technical Publication] [Full-Text] | |
2009 | Bonadio, Frank and Butler, John and Macnally, Shane and Vaugh, Trevor (2009) Surgical sealing device for providing hand or instrument access during surgical procedure has sealing valve with sealing members moved in open configuration which facilitates passage of object through sealing valve to access internal cavity. [Technical Publication] [Full-Text] | |
2009 | Bonadio, Frank and Butler, John and Vaugh, Trevor and MacNally, Shane Joseph and Reid, Alan (2009) Wound retractor device. [Technical Publication] | |
2008 | Bonadio, Frank and Butler, John and Vaugh, Trevor and Macnally, Shane (2008) Surgical device ie wound retractor device, inserting apparatus, has separate holder element holding surgical device in low-profile configuration, and formed separately from conveying device. [Technical Publication] [Full-Text] | |
2008 | Bonadio, Frank and Vaugh, Trevor and Butler, John and Macnally, Shane J (2008) Hand and instrument access device. [Technical Publication] | |
2008 | Bonadio, Frank and Butler, John and Vaugh, Trevor (2008) Instrument insertion device. [Technical Publication] | |
2008 | Bonadio, Frank and Butler, John and Vaugh, Trevor and Macnally, Shane (2008) Instrument access device for use during eg aparoscopic choecystectomy procedure, has distal anchoring ring provided to locate within wound interior, and retractor with sleeve extending from ring to retract sides of wound opening. [Technical Publication] [Full-Text] | |
2007 | Vaugh, Trevor and Butler, John and MacNally, Shane and Bonadio, Frank (2007) Instrument access device. [Technical Publication] | |
2007 | Butler, John and Vaugh, Trevor and Bonadio, Frank (2007) Surgical device. [Technical Publication] | |
2007 | Bonadio, Frank and Butler, John and Vaugh, Trevor and MacNally, Shane Joseph (2007) Apparatus for inserting a surgical device at least partially through a wound opening. [Technical Publication] | |
2007 | Butler, John and Vaugh, Trevor and Bonadio, Frank and Mcmanus, Ronan and Macnally, Shane and Cuschieri, Alfread and Reid, Alan and others (2007) Surgical devices seal, has two sealing members each having accessway that provide access from one side of sealing members to other side of members, and biasing unit biasing two sealing members towards one another. [Technical Publication] [Full-Text] | |
2007 | Bonadio, Frank and Butler, John and Deegan, C and Vaugh, Trevor (2007) Wound retractor for use during laparoscopic surgery, has connecting member extending between proximal and distal members, and release member stowed away before release member is required to be used to release distal member. [Technical Publication] [Full-Text] | |
2007 | Bonadio, Frank and Vaugh, Trevor (2007) Cannula has lip seal movingly coupled to proximal section, to facilitate relative movement of instrument shaft between seal and proximal section and to maintain sealing engagement between shaft and proximal portion. [Technical Publication] [Full-Text] | |
2007 | Vaugh, Trevor and Butler, John and Macnally, Shane and Bonadio, Frank (2007) Instrument access device for use in accessing a wound interior has an opening portion for partly opening a seal to allow insertion of an instrument in which the seal is reinforced upon engagement with the instrument. [Technical Publication] [Full-Text] | |
2006 | Bonadio, Frank and Butler, John and Vaugh, Trevor and Deegan, Catherine and MacNally, Shane (2006) Surgical instrument. [Technical Publication] | |
2005 | Bonadio, Frank and Vaugh, Trevor (2005) Seal for a cannula. [Technical Publication] | |
2005 | Butler, John and Vaugh, Trevor and Bonadio, Frank (2005) A surgical sealing device. [Technical Publication] | |
2005 | Bonadio, Frank and Vaugh, Trevor and Butler, John and Deegan, Catherine (2005) Wound retractor device. [Technical Publication] | |
2004 | Vaugh, Trevor and Butler, John and Bonadio, Frank (2004) Surgical sealing device. [Technical Publication] | |
2003 | Bonadio, Frank and Butler, John and Vaugh, Trevor and MacNally, Shane and Reid, Alan (2003) Surgical device. [Technical Publication] | |
2003 | Butler, John and Bonadio, Frank and Vaugh, Trevor and McManus, Ronan and MacNally, Shane and Deegan, Catherine and Cuschieri, Alfred and Reid, Alan (2003) Device. [Technical Publication] | |
2002 | Butler, John and Bonadio, Frank and Bell, Duncan and Woods, Lisa and Vaugh, Trevor (2002) Device. [Technical Publication] |