Professor Ramia Mazé

Biography

Ramia Mazé is Professor in Design for Social Innovation and Sustainability at London College of Communication, University of the Arts London (UAL)(UK). Since 2016, she has been an editor of the leading scholarly journal Design Issues .

Currently, Ramia’s research focuses on methods and roles of design in policy, sustainable development and just climate transitions. Current projects include:
• Design|Policy AHRC Network co-convened by Professors Lucy Kimbell and Liz Richardson >> https://www.arts.ac.uk/research/current-research-and-projects/design-and-policy-network
• UAL Climate Systems Mapping pilot project (within UAL’s Climate and Environmental Action Group and Social Purpose Lab) with Dr Niki Wallace, Professor Dilys Williams, Niamh Tuft and Domenica Landin

Over her 20+ year career, her research has spanned multiple disciplines but centres on design that is participatory, critical and politically-engaged. For example, she has researched participatory design and design for social innovation in terms of the political and power aspects of practice in particular public contexts. Pursuing these topics, she has led, published, and exhibited widely through a variety of interdisciplinary and international research projects and cultural initiatives. Methodologically, she specializes in practice-based research as well as critical and feminist epistemologies. Her research includes studies of design education and design research (doctoral) education. She has collaborated with scholars and practitioners in policy-making, sustainable development, and, in particular, futures studies.

>> Selected publications are available in this webpage under ’Research Outputs.’
>> A more complete list is available at the ORCHID and Portfolio links

Prior to 2020, she was a Professor at Aalto University in Finland where, among other roles, she was Head of Education in the Department of Design as Head of Education, and she led the master’s course ’Design for Government’ addressing design briefs from Finnish ministries and public authorities. Prior to 2015, she was a teacher and researcher at Konstfack College of Arts, Crafts, and Design and KTH Royal Institute of Technology, and she was part of the leadership team of the national doctoral school Designfakulteten/D!. Prior to 2007, she had a variety of research and leadership roles at the Interactive Institute in Sweden.
>> See details at LinkedIn or request a CV

Ramia is highly active in developing research career pathways and research education in design. At UAL, she has been part of building up training for Early Career Researchers at college and university levels as well as advising on research at school and college levels. At UAL and Aalto, she has contributed to committees charged with developing university academic promotion and tenure criteria. With Maria Hellström Reimer, she has recently published a critical reflection on the national doctoral school in design Designfakulteten/D! in Sweden. She has particular expertise on the navigation of ’unconventional’ career paths, including gender aspects.

Doctoral supervision is important to Ramia, she does not at present have the capacity to take on further supervisions. She is currently supervising 6 doctoral candidates and has previously supervised 7 to completion.
>> See names and topics at this webpage under ’Teaching and Supervision’