Texas Tech University

Michelle Pearson, Ph.D.

Associate Chair, Associate Professor, Interior Design Program Director
Interior Design

Email: Michelle.Pearson@ttu.edu

Phone: (806) 834-8696

Office: HS 210A

Dr. Michelle Pearson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Design, Texas Tech University. She earned her Master of Science in Environmental Design and Doctor of Philosophy in Interior Environmental Design from Texas Tech University. Michelle Pearson's research interests focus designing for health and wellness, specifically for children. Some of her current research projects include the role of positive distractions in pediatric healthcare spaces, an examination of virtual classroom environments for children with autism and the design and research of a Malawian Early Childhood Development Center. The Malawian Early Childhood Development Center is a multidisciplinary project with members from a variety of disciplines including interior design, architecture, landscape architecture, engineering, and human development family studies. Her work was selected as the 2015 Outstanding Graduate Research Award for her work she completed for her dissertation. Pearson recently co-authored a book titled “Designing for Autism Spectrum Disorders.” Finally, she is a member of several professional organizations and serves as the Student Design Competition Coordinator for the Interior Design Educators Council Southwest Region.

Michelle Pearson

Areas of Expertise

  • Designing for Health and Wellness
  • Positive Distractions
  • Building Information Modeling

Selected Publications

Gaines, K., Bourne, A., Pearson, M., Kleibrink, M. Designing for Autism Spectrum Disorders. Routledge. Expected release date: May 2016.

Pearson, M., Gaines, K., Pati, D., Colwell, M, Motheral, L., & Adams. N.  The Physiological Effects of Window Murals on Pediatric Patients.  Journal of Interior Design. (Submitted)

Colwell, M., Gaines, K., Pearson, M., Wright, H., Corson, K. (2016) Space, place, and privacy.  Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal. (44)4

Pearson,M., Gaines, K., Colwell, M., Raab, P., EDRA47Raleigh, "The Research and Development of a Malawian Early Childhood Development Center," EDRA, Raleigh, NC. (October 2015).

Gaines, K., O'Boyle, M., Pearson, M., Pati, D., Islam, A., Environmental Design Research Association, "Neural Interactions between the Built Environment and Individuals with Autism using Augmented Reality Visualization," Raleigh, NC. (October 2015).

Pearson, M., Gaines, K., EDRA46LosAngeles, "The Effectiveness of Created-Nature Scenes in Healthcare Environments," Los Angeles. (May 2015).

Pearson, M., Gaines, K., Pati, D., IDEC, "The Physiological Effects of Window Decals on Pediatric Patients," Interior Design Educators Council, Fort Worth, TX. (March 2015).

Links

Designing for Autism Spectrum Disorders

KCBD Healthwise – Window Decals in Local Hospital

Lubbock Avalanche – Write up on Research Award

Michelle Pearson Vita

Department of Design