As Professor of Design Management and Policy at the University of Lancaster, she is Director of  ImaginationLancaster (a centre for research into products, places and systems for the future). She is also co-director of Highwire, Digital Economies Innovation Doctoral Training Centre. Professor Cooper’s research covers: design thinking; design management; design policy; new product development; design for wellbeing; design in the built environment; design against crime; and socially responsible design.

Her latest project is as Director of a £4m knowledge exchange hub ‘The Creative Exchange’(2012/15) that will work with companies and academics to look at citizen engagement in the ‘Digital Public Space.

Professor Cooper has written extensively in the field, including The Design Agenda (1995) Creative Product Design (2000), The Design Experience (2003), Process Management in Design and Construction(2004), Designing Sustainable Cities (2009)Constructing Futures (2010) and is currently commissioning editor for an Ashgate series on Socially Responsible Design.  Her latest book is The Handbook of Design Management (Berg August 2011).

Professor Cooper is President of the European Academy of Design, Editor of The Design Journal, and member of the EU Design and Innovation Leadership Board.