05/13/2026
🎓 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.
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