Veronica Barnes completed a MTech in Design in 2005, and is currently busy with doctoral studies in Product Design, examining the role of empathy in product design. She is a full-time lecturer in the Product Design Programme at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, and received a Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award in 2015. She has also completed a Higher Diploma in Higher Education and Training. She has been involved in international research projects linked to community development and service design. Veronica’s research interests include empathy, design anthropology, critical thinking and digital storytelling.