Contact details
Address
Northampton Square
London EC1V 0HB
United Kingdom
About
Overview
Helena Lyhme is a PhD student at the Centre for Human-Computer Interaction Design at City, University of London. Her current research is centred around the impact of digitisation of personal money management and financial technology on autistic adults, with the aim of co-creating alternative approaches using participatory design methods.
Helena has a background in social anthropology, computer science and Science and Technology Studies (STS). She has 6 years of professional experience working in the IT industry, which included design and product thinking, requirements analysis, user research and agile methodology.
In her work, Helena is focused on the development of responsible and humane technology, that considers the wider societal and systemic impacts of technology.
Qualifications
- M.Sc. Science and Technology in Society, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom, Sep 2016 – Nov 2017
- B. A. Social and Cultural Anthropology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany, Sep 2011 – Apr 2016
Employment
- Senior Business Analyst, Thoughtworks, Sep 2018 – Jan 2024
- IT Support, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Feb – Jul 2018
- Internal Operations, Serlo Education, Apr 2016 – Aug 2018
Languages
English (can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review) and German (can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review).
Research
Title of thesis: Reinventing the Future of Financial Technologies with Autistic Adults
Feb 2024 – Jan 2028
Summary of research
The introduction of digital technologies into personal money management has unintended and sometimes adverse consequences for citizens. These exacerbate financial exclusion and affect disproportionally those who struggle financially or find themselves in vulnerable circumstances.
This PhD will research how the downsides of digitising personal finance could be tackled through design, through participatory design methods and in collaboration with autistic adults.
Given the challenging life and financial circumstances of autistic adults, it is important to assess whether existing financial technologies and services are suitable for their needs and preferences, and whether they are resulting in stigmatising or discriminatory treatment.
Collaborating with autistic adults will yield diverse and innovative perspectives to critically assess the current state of financial technologies and push the boundaries of their design.
1st supervisor
- Professor Stephanie Wilson, Professor of Human-Computer Interaction
2nd supervisor
- Dr Belen Barros Pena, Lecturer in HCI