Helena Lyhme

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, September 2016 - November 2017
• B. A. Social and Cultural Anthropology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany, September 2011 - April 2016

Employment

• Senior Business Analyst, Thoughtworks, September 2018 - January 2024
• IT Support, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany, February - July 2018
• Internal Operations, Serlo Education, Germany, April 2016 - August 2018

Languages

English (can read, write, speak, understand spoken, peer review) and German (can read, write, speak, understand spoken, peer review)

Title of thesis: Reinventing the Future of Financial Technologies with Autistic Adults

February 2024 - January 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.

Research students

1^stsupervisor

• Professor Stephanie Wilson, Professor of Human-Computer Interaction

2^ndsupervisor

• Dr Belen Barros Pena, Lecturer in HCI

Publications by category