ekip’s profile of the month: Valentina Auricchio

Dr Valentina Auricchio

Design research and strategic innovation

Dr Valentina Auricchio is a researcher and project manager whose work focuses on design methods and the management of strategic design projects with small and medium-sized industries, including Design Thinking processes.

Her research interests lie in design processes, methods, and tools, and their application across different sectors to support strategic innovation. She is part of the POLIMI DESIS Lab and the international DESIS Network (Design for Social Innovation and Sustainability).

Her professional experience spans multiple roles, including:

• Director of the IED Research Centre (2009–2011)
• Co-editor of Ottagono, an international magazine on Design and Architecture (2012–2014)
• Co-founder of the consulting firm 6ZERO5 in 2016

She currently teaches at Politecnico di Milano, contributing to the Master Course in Product Service System Design and the Product Design Bachelor programme, with a focus on user studies, strategic design, and design methods.

POLIMI DESIS Lab and design for social innovation

The Department of Design at Politecnico di Milano contributes deep expertise in design thinking, co-design, service design, design for social innovation, and design for policy through the POLIMI DESIS Lab.

The lab operates with a strategic and systemic approach to design, focusing on participatory design, service design, and design activism. Its work explores how design can support and trigger social innovation by combining creativity and visioning with structured co-design processes.

Community-centred design and local ecosystems

POLIMI DESIS Lab has extensive experience collaborating with public administrations, third-sector organisations, and private companies. Since 2004, the lab has been working on social innovation, developing the concept of community-centred design.

This approach supports local ecosystems by enabling people, communities, enterprises, and social actors to activate and manage innovation processes, experimenting with more sustainable and collaborative ways of living.

Creative Europe and work with remote places

Among the lab’s recent initiatives is the four-year research project “Human Cities / SMOTIES – Creative works with small and remote places”, co-funded by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency within the Creative Europe Programme.

The project fosters creative thinking and innovation in small and remote European places, reinforcing the role of design as a catalyst for social and territorial transformation.

Related publication:
“Scenario-building for creative future solutions in remote places”

https://ecp.ep.liu.se/index.php/servdes/article/view/800/705