Dr Guljira Manimont
- Senior Lecturer in Business and Management (Marketing, Strategy and Innovation)
- Dorset House D143, Talbot Campus, Fern Barrow, Poole, BH12 5BB
Biography
Dr Guljira warmly invites PhD applicants interested in designing interventions to promote aesthetically imperfect foods, food-related lifestyles, online visual influence/imagery, and destination branding. If your research interests align, please feel free to get in touch with her for an informal discussion.
Guljira has been based in the department since moving from Australia where she completed her PhD in Marketing from Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in 2021. She previously held both teaching and research roles at QUT Business School and Creative Industries Faculty (Industrial Design). Guljira also received her MSc in International Marketing (specialising in Customer Management) from the University of Strathclyde and Bachelor of Business in Hospitality Management from James Cook University Australia. Before transitioning to academia, Guljira worked as a Marketing Communication Specialist and Graphic Designer for Australian organisations based in Thailand and Australia.
Guljira's perspective as a food Instagrammer (@foodietheorist) and photographer turned destination marketing researcher has ignited her passion for understanding how images shape people's perceptions and behaviours... She firmly believes that visual cues play a crucial role in how we perceive the world, particularly in the context of culinary places on social media platforms. In recognition of her innovative research, Guljira was honoured with the ACORN Fund (Acceleration Of Research & Networking) award in January 2022. This grant facilitated the successful execution of her project exploring the impact of food photos on the attractiveness of culinary destinations, focusing on Dorset and Hampshire, UK.
Guljira's commitment to advancing knowledge is evident through her internationally recognised research contributions. She has presented her work at prestigious academic forums and has published in esteemed journals within the fields of tourism, marketing and medical sciences.
moreResearch
At the heart of Guljira's research lies a profound fascination with food. Food is not just sustenance; it serves as a lens through which she explores facets of human behaviour and societal norms. Her research journey commenced with an in-depth exploration of the influence of food photos shared on social media and their impact on our choices in culinary destinations. Her PhD focused on exploring the secrets behind the attractiveness of these visually enticing dishes and how they enhance the appeal of specific food destinations.
However, her exploration did not stop there. Guljira's curiosity led her to look beyond the perfect images into the imperfect aspects of food. She began investigating the beauty within imperfection—how embracing flaws in food can pave the way for sustainable consumption practices and reduce wastage. This shift in focus marked the beginning of her quest to understand not just the visual appeal of food but also its authenticity and sustainability.
Currently, Guljira is engaged in collaborative research projects with universities and research institutes in the UK, Australia, Thailand and Slovakia. These projects aim to mitigate negative stigma towards imperfect products and unconventional food items such as insects. Through her background in graphic design, she approaches these projects with an experiment-led design lens, promoting sustainable food consumption. Funding for these projects comes from institutions such as KMITL Research and Innovation Services and The British Academy/Leverhulme...
Regarding research supervisions, Guljira welcomes PhD students. Her areas of interest in supervision include a wide array of topics, including social media adoption, destination brand performance measurement, behavioural aspects of sustainable food consumption, the psychology behind restaurant design, and optimising value through service design. Her mentorship is geared towards nurturing innovative thinkers and fostering impactful research in these domains.
moreFavourites
- Manimont, G., Memery, J. and Alahakoon, T., 2024. Food day-trippers’ perceptions of regional food destination attractiveness: an application of distance decay theory. Leisure Studies.
- Manimont, G., Pike, S., Beatson, A. and Tuzovic, S., 2022. Culinary destination consumer-based brand equity: exploring the influence of tourist gaze in relation to FoodPorn on social media. Tourism Recreation Research, 47 (3), 221-240.
- Chamorro-Koc, M., Peake, J., Meek, A. and Manimont, G., 2021. Self-efficacy and trust in consumers' use of health-technologies devices for sports. HELIYON, 7 (8).
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person's work contributes towards the following SDGs:
Sustainable cities and communities
"Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable"
Responsible consumption and production
"Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns"
