Dr. Ramy Hammady is a Senior Lecturer in Design Leadership with over 15 years of international academic and industry experience in design, immersive technologies, and human-centered innovation. He is recognised for his interdisciplinary contributions that span the domains of Human-Computer Interaction, Experience Design, and emerging technologies. He currently serves as an Associate Editor for Virtual Reality and Human Behaviour, where he supports the advancement of scholarly discourse on immersive human-technology interaction.
Prior to joining the University of Southampton, Dr. Hammady held notable academic leadership roles, including Assistant Professor and Deputy Director of Postgraduate Studies at the University of Essex, and Senior Lecturer and Research Lead in Games at Solent University. He brings over 15 years of teaching experience across diverse international institutions, complemented by seven years in the games and immersive systems industry.
He is a Certified UX Researcher from the Nielsen Norman Group (NN/g), an Adobe Certified Expert and Instructor, and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). Dr. Hammady has served as an XR Consultant for the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), where he contributed to strategic digital knowledge initiatives and founded the XR Space Community for innovation in design-led technologies.
His applied research is exemplified by several landmark projects, including MuseumEye and a series of immersive applications for museums in Cairo, Leeds, and Manchester. A pioneer in deploying Microsoft HoloLens since 2016, Dr. Hammady continues to lead in the integration of AI-enhanced XR systems within sectors such as cultural heritage, education, and professional training. His innovative work has been recognised through his designation as a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) in Mixed Reality since 2021.
Dr. Hammady has secured significant external funding, including a £250,000 Innovate UK grant to lead the development of a transformative UI/UX solution for the heat pump industry. This initiative, in partnership with the University of Essex, exemplifies his capacity to align academic excellence with industrial impact.
Through his sustained contributions to teaching, research, and professional practice, Dr. Hammady continues to influence the global dialogue on design leadership and immersive innovation.
Dr. Hammady's research investigates the intersection of design strategy and technological innovation, with key interests including:
- Design Leadership and Strategic Design Management
- Human-Centered Design
- Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)
- User Interface and User Experience Design (UI/UX), and User Research
- Emerging Technologies, including Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), interactive systems, and serious games
- Artificial Intelligence in Extended Reality (XR) Applications
- Gamification and Serious Games for Behavioural and Educational Impact
