🎓 Introducing our Local Chair, Aija Freimane.

Dr. Aija Freimane is a full-time academic member of the faculty at the TU Dublin School of Art and Design, where she lectures in design theory, design research, and the creative industries. Her academic work centres on human-centred value creation through design, drawing on elements of design anthropology, sociology, universal design, and strategic thinking.

As a practising design researcher and expert, Dr Freimane specialises in human-centred design methodologies, creative and strategic thinking, the socioeconomic impact of design, and the integration of design within process innovation, service development, and product strategy. Her research investigates the user-centred value of design, addressing themes such as design anthropology, design sociology, design for happiness, sustainable social well-being, and the wider implications of social and cultural capital in design.

Since 2012, Dr. Freimane has regularly published peer-reviewed academic papers indexed in major databases such as Scopus, EBSCO, ProQuest, EconBIZ, Web of Science, and EconLit. Her work is widely recognised for advancing the theoretical and practical understanding of the perceived value of design.

Her research contributions include:

Defining the perceived value of design indicators that decode how users perceive design impact in Latvia.
Creating a self-assessment design maturity matrix for enterprises to identify and integrate design practices in new product and service development.
Advocating design as a methodology that enhances societal well-being, promotes collective happiness, and supports the development of sustainable, fulfilling communities.

Dr. Freimane’s postdoctoral research (2018–2020), titled "Identification System of Design Socioeconomic Impact towards the Transformation of Knowledge-Intensive Economy in Latvia", was funded by the European Regional Development Fund. The outcomes were published in the award-winning book “Perceived Design Value”, recipient of the A' Design Award in 2021 in the Meta, Service, and Strategic Design category. Her research findings have influenced policymakers, educators, entrepreneurs, and community developers.

Another significant contribution is the “Design Footprints” timeline, a comprehensive visual research mapping 168 historical design events and facts across technological, political, social, and economic contexts from 1588 to 2015. This timeline encourages designers to consider systemic and historical influences in contemporary design practice. It emerged from her doctoral thesis (2010–2015), "Design for Sustainable Social Wellbeing: Paradigm Shift of Design", the first academic degree in design research in Latvia.

From 2021 to 2023, Dr. Freimane led the Design Expert Group for the Tuning-CALOHEE Erasmus+ KA3 project, contributing to the development of the General Qualifications Reference Frameworks for short-cycle, Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral-level degrees in design education across Europe.

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2027 Conference Local Host: Aija Freimane