Sapienza Design Research

The Associated PhD in Service Design for Public Sector has just opened the call for applications for the 42nd Cycle (Academic Year 2026/2027).

Applications open by May 15, 2026
Deadline: June 17, 2026 at 11:59 PM (CET)

The program aims to train highly qualified professionals to respond to the innovation process in the public sector, particularly in Public Administrations (PAs).
The associated nature of the program involves national and international partners including Politecnico di Milano, IUAV University of Venice, University of Bologna Alma Mater, Mercatorum University, Isia Rome, Isia Florence, University of Arts London, Central Saint Martins (UK), University of Lapland (Finland), Aalborg University (Denmark), L'école de Design Nantes Atlantique (France).

This year we have a total of 6 open positions, of which 5 with scholarship.

Detailed call for applications and on the admission procedure at:
https://phd.uniroma1.it/web/concorso42.aspx?s=&i=3972&m=&l=EN&p=&a=

Presentation of the doctoral programme at:
https://phd.uniroma1.it/web/SERVICE-DESIGN-FOR-PUBLIC-SECTOR_nD3972_EN.aspx

Don't miss the opportunity to advance your research journey!

Hybrid workshop session DesignMatters | Diversity in PhD: good practices and open resources for the PhD research and supervision journey
Wednesday 6 May, 17:30-19:30 Athens time / 16:30-18:30 Central European time
Cumulus Athens conference and online: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82085816162

Aimed at PhD students and supervisors, this workshop shares the resources and tools born within the Erasmus+ project “DesignMatters: Nurturing Inclusive and Innovative Design Research”. Developed in partnership with Cumulus, the project aims at promoting inclusion, diversity, and innovation in doctoral education in Design.
During the workshop, after a brief introduction of DesingMatters training modules focused on various dimensions of diversity, participants will practice hands-on how to apply these principles to their own PhD research or PhD supervision through the PhD Journey Map tool.
The aim is to empower doctoral students with a deeper understanding of how to include diverse perspectives in their research, while enabling supervisors to tackle inequalities that may exclude disadvantaged PhD students and hinder their scientific outputs.
Through fostering collaboration among academia, civil society, and local communities, the initiative seeks to bridge academic research with real-world needs.

We would appreciate if you anticipated your interest at this form [ https://forms.gle/ja91SHAV9mS8qbao8 ], but you are welcome to join also without registering.

🎂 Buon compleanno Sapienza, oggi compi 723 anni di storia!

Festeggiamo la nostra Università: inviateci una foto o un video in DM o taggando , le immagini più belle saranno condivise sui nostri social!

‼️🕥 […e oggi, a partire dalle 10.30, segui la diretta streaming della Cerimonia di inaugurazione dell’anno accademico 2025-2026 per celebrare insieme questo anniversario ➡️ YouTube.com/SapienzaRoma, trovi il link nelle storie di oggi]

・・・

🄴🄽🄶 Happy birthday Sapienza, today you celebrate 723 years of history!

Let’s celebrate our University: send us a photo or a video in DM o tagging , the best images will be shared on our social networks!

‼️🕥 [...and today, starting at 10.30, follow the live streaming of the ceremony of the inauguration of the academic year 2025-2026 to celebrate this anniversary together ➡️ YouTube.com/SapienzaRoma, you can find the link in today’s stories]

・・・

Starting soon! On 20 April from 14:30, in Barcelona and online (https://www.youtube.com/live/InIw8Sam1KY), DesignMatters is organizing its second conference and roundtable «Diversity in Design Research. Good Practices and Open Resources». The event will take place at BAU, College of Arts and Design of Barcelona and it will be transmitted online.
The conference is an early dissemination event to discuss issues related to the Erasmus+ project “DesignMatters: Nurturing Inclusive and Innovative Design Research”, which has the goal of promoting inclusion, diversity, and innovation in doctoral education in design.
By developing shared methods and standards for PhD programs across Europe, it aims to tackle the challenges of inequality in higher education. Through fostering collaboration among academia, civil society, and local communities, the initiative seeks to bridge academic research with real-world needs.
To access the conference in any of its possible ways it is mandatory to register. You can find all the information below.

Venue:
BAU, College of Arts and Design of Barcelona. C/ Pujades, 118, 08005 Barcelona (Spain)
Sala Polivalent (Polivalent room)
Online:
The link will be sent to all registered participants before the conference.

Programme:
13:15 Welcome and registration
13:30 Informal lunch
14:30 – 15:30 DesignMatters: Fostering Diversity and Inclusion in Research and Training in Design. Program presentation
15:30 – 16:10 Emilio Rossi – Associate Professor in Design, Department of Architecture, «Gabriele d’Annunzio» University of Chieti-Pescara, Italy.
16:10 – 16:50 Nina Paim – Publisher, Bikini Books.
16:50 – 17:30 Marco Guadarrama – Designer, PhD Candidate in Design Research, RMIT, Multicultural Inclusion Lead, IKEA.
17:30 – 17:50 Coffee break
17:50 – 19:10 Roundtable with civil society
Rafa Marcos Mota (El Palomar)
Silvia Albert Sopale (Periferia Cimarronas, Festival Black Barcelona and Tinta Negra)
Camila René Maggi (Autofabricantes)
Nyangala Zolho (Policy Learning Designer)
19:10 – 19:45 Q&A

Coffee breaks and lunch break provided at the venue.
All sessions include ample time for questions – join the discussion!

On April 20 in Barcelona and online, DesignMatters is organizing its second conference and roundtable «Diversity in Design Research. Good Practices and Open Resources». The event will take place at BAU, College of Arts and Design of Barcelona and it will be transmitted online.
The conference is an early dissemination event to discuss issues related to the Erasmus+ project “DesignMatters: Nurturing Inclusive and Innovative Design Research”, which has the goal of promoting inclusion, diversity, and innovation in doctoral education in design.
By developing shared methods and standards for PhD programs across Europe, it aims to tackle the challenges of inequality in higher education. Through fostering collaboration among academia, civil society, and local communities, the initiative seeks to bridge academic research with real-world needs.

To access the conference in any of its possible ways it is mandatory to register. You can find all the information below.
Registration form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf5-M1YB_ELhAu-c6KHgbwIGZ8mZGJuhVeg2qdj2Y0QgwpmZg/viewform?usp=dialog

Venue:
BAU, College of Arts and Design of Barcelona. C/ Pujades, 118, 08005 Barcelona (Spain)
Sala Polivalent (Polivalent room)
Online:
The link will be sent to all registered participants before the conference.

Programme:
13:15 Welcome and registration
13:30 Informal lunch
14:30 – 15:30 DesignMatters: Fostering Diversity and Inclusion in Research and Training in Design. Program presentation
15:30 – 16:10 Emilio Rossi – Associate Professor in Design, Department of Architecture, «Gabriele d’Annunzio» University of Chieti-Pescara, Italy.
16:10 – 16:50 Nina Paim – Publisher, Bikini Books.
16:50 – 17:30 Marco Guadarrama – Designer, PhD Candidate in Design Research, RMIT, Multicultural Inclusion Lead, IKEA.

17:30 – 17:50 Coffee break

17:50 – 19:10 Roundtable with civil society
Rafa Marcos Mota (El Palomar)
​Silvia Albert Sopale (Periferia Cimarronas, Festival Black Barcelona and Tinta Negra)
​Camila René Maggi (Autofabricantes)
Nyangala Zolho (Policy Learning Designer)
19:10 – 19:45 Q&A

Coffee breaks and lunch break provided at the venue.
All sessions include ample time for questions – join the discussion!