David Mahoney, PhD Candidate
David Mahoney is a PhD candidate at Design Informatics, supervised by Prof. Melissa Terras and Prof. John Lee. He is a graduate of The University of Edinburgh in Product Design, with his current research focus on sustainable web design with the goals of enhancing user experience, shaping future practices, and promoting digital environmental responsibility.
David is the Founder and Creative Director of Headless Horse, an award-winning independent branding, design, and development studio. The studio articulates visions for the industries of beauty, fashion, culture, and commerce and has collaborated with notable global brands such as Nike, Rolls-Royce, Vogue, and Yves Saint Laurent Beauty. Headless Horse recently received the Scottish Design Award for Packaging Design for its work with the luxury, Italian skincare brand TEAM DR JOSEPH, featuring sustainable packaging and a low-carbon website design.
His PhD research at The University of Edinburgh is part of Overbrowsing, an applied research group he established. Overbrowsing aims to drive a conscientious digital future by blending enquiry with action. This initiative advances sustainable web design and development by creating tools and best practices that emphasise conscious strategies, resource optimisation, and ethical considerations, promoting a harmonious balance between technology and the environment.