Dr. Gaurav Patel’s research is rooted in Visual Ergonomics and Visual Communication, with a strong interdisciplinary approach that bridges design, human factors, and communication science. His work focuses on making visual systems—such as symbols, pictograms, and wayfinding tools—more comprehensible, accessible, and ergonomic, especially in safety-critical and public environments.

Key Research Contributions:

• Pictogram Comprehension & Safety Communication:
  Dr. Patel’s PhD research led to the development of ergonomic and culturally contextualized pesticide safety pictograms for agricultural workers in Central India. His publications in Applied Ergonomics, Human and Ecological Risk Assessment, and Journal of Agromedicine offer evidence-based insights into improving symbol comprehension through color, size, and layout optimization.
• Ergonomic Design for Healthcare and Public Spaces:
  His M.Des thesis and subsequent work focus on the design intervention of wayfinding systems in hospitals, improving navigation and information access in high-stress environments. These were supported by user studies and field evaluations.
• Curriculum-Integrated Design Research:
  As an educator, Dr. Patel has taught courses like Visual Ergonomics, Design Research Methodology, and Infographics, encouraging students to integrate human-centered research in real-world projects—such as ergonomic analysis of dishwashing workstations and improving rural health communication.
• Applied Research Projects:
  Notable projects include ergonomic evaluation of workspace design, snake awareness campaigns using design thinking, and redesign of hospital signage systems—all of which reflect his practical and participatory approach to research.

Dr. Patel’s work contributes to the advancement of human-centered visual systems and continues to address the gap between visual design and user comprehension in public health, safety, and information environments.