Kristi Gaines, Ph.D., IIDA, IDEC

Personal Information

Kristi Gaines is an Associate Dean of the Graduate School and Professor in the Department of Design. Through research that investigates ways built environments can accommodate diverse populations through design, Gaines has achieved national recognition as a leader in designing learning environments and other spaces for individuals with sensory sensitivities and developmental disorders. She is also co-founder of the Texas Tech University Coalition for Natural Learning and is a member of a state-wide leadership team, created by the Texas Department of State Health Services, to implement an outdoor learning environment health intervention in Texas.  Gaines' book, Designing for Autism Spectrum Disorders, was recognized with awards from the four leading organizations for interior and environmental design. With more than two decades of professional interior design and teaching experience, Gaines has served in leadership roles in industry organizations including the Interior Design Educators Council and the International Interior Design Association. She is a member of the Teaching Academy and is an inaugural graduate of the President's Leadership Institute at Texas Tech University.

Research Focus

Published in numerous academic journals, Gaines' research investigates the impact of learning environments for people of all abilities in the United States, United Kingdom and Malawi, Africa. A current project combines neuroscience and augmented reality visualization using fMRI technology to compare the behavioral and neural responses for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders. She has also teamed up with researchers in apparel design and manufacturing to develop functional clothing for children with sensory integrative differences. Most recently, she was awarded the Chancellor's Council Distinguished Research Award and the President's Emerging Engaged Scholarship Award.

• Environmental design of inclusive environments
• Environmental design of learning environments
• Inclusive design for the senses