Professor Elliott is researching the idea of Nature inside both in a theoretical sense and in a practical sense. In the theoretical domain, he is interested in those aspects of material culture of the built environment that express a society's set of values as they pertain to the natural world, especially regarding environmental ethics and aesthetics. He is currently investigating the idea of a "green aesthetic" where a design's ethical program is expressed in its appearance. In the practical domain, Professor Elliott uses the design project to pull technology in a real world context to produce meaningful works. The project prototype is used as a stimulant for design discourse, a conductor for technological developments, and an exemplar for commercial enterprise. More specifically, he is producing a collection of furniture works designed to heighten awareness of various environmental issues associated with their manufacture. He is also using new information technologies to provide innovative ways to add value to waste agriculture and forestry products, while working with businesses and advocacy groups in the Adirondack region of New York.

Rider, T.R., Elliott, J. "Education, Environmental Attitudes and the Design Professions" in Selected Papers of the ARCC 2007 Research Conference, ARCC Journal, vol. 4, no.2, 2007.

Elliott, J., Brown, M. "Green vs. Grey: Energy Performances of Two Olympic Speed Skating Ovals", Journal of Architecture and Planning Research, vol.24, no. 2, Summer 2007.

Kosheleva, E., Elliott, J. 2006. "Green Building in the Russian Context: An Investigation into the Establishment of a LEED®-based Green Building Rating", Journal of Green Building, vol.1: no. 3, Summer 2006.

Elliott, J. 2004. "Considering the Natural: Reconciling Eco-ethics and Aesthetics in the Practice of Design", Journal of Design Philosophy Papers, no. 2.

Elliott, J. 2003. "Eco-ethics, Aesthetics and the Paradox of Informed Negligence", Proceedings from the 2003 ACSA International Conference, Helsinki, Finland.

Elliott, J; Yoon, H. 2002. A Green Analysis of SMED, Inc. lifeSPACE Product, Ithaca, New York.

Elliott, J. 2001 Ergo Versus Eco: A Tale of Two Centricities, Proceedings of 45th Human Factors and Ergonomic Society National Conference, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Elliott, J. 2001 Mumbling and Stumbling: Paradoxes of Green Design Practice, Proceedings from 89th Annual Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture National Conference, Baltimore, Maryland.

Elliott, J. 2001 Adirondack Rustic Furniture Industry: Surveys and Prospects, Adirondack Journal Of Environmental Studies, Vol.6, No.1, Paul Smiths College, New York.

Elliott, J. 2000 Out Through the In(Doors): New Approaches To Green Interior Design Education, In.Form: Journal of Interior Design, vol.1, no.1, University Of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, Nebraska.

Elliott, J. 2000 Columena: A Prototype for Sustainable Product Design, Second Place, Idec National Conference, Juried Competition For Creative Works.

Elliott, J. 1999. Reflecting Nature: Artificing as a Biophilic Response. Proceedings of the 20th Annual Conference on Design, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada.

Pope, S., Elliott, J., Turbini, L. 1998. Designing for Technological Obsolescence and Discontinuous Change: An Evaluation of Three Secessional Electronic Products. Electronics and the Environment, Proceedings of the 1998 IEEE.

Elliott, J. 1997. The Blur: A Catalyst for Conceptualization. Blurring Boundaries, Proceedings of the 1997 Design Education Conference.

Elliott, J. 1997. The Warm Springs Chair and Table: The Evolution of an Idea. The Humane Village, Proceedings of the 20th Congress of ICSID, 1997.