A seasoned design leader with over 20 years of experience, this professional holds a PhD in Design from UFPR, along with a Master’s degree in Development and Organizations (FAE) and a Bachelor’s in Product Design (PUC-PR). Their career blends academic excellence with strategic and practical expertise, focusing on innovation, design management, and the creative economy. Currently serving as Technical Director of the Brazil Design Center, they lead high-impact initiatives that connect design with business strategy, public policy, and sustainable development. Their work emphasizes circular economy principles, internationalization, and positioning design as a driver of competitiveness and territorial development. They are also actively engaged in academia as a postgraduate lecturer and have contributed to institutional evaluation processes with Brazil’s Ministry of Education. In addition, they serve as a consultant, speaker, juror, and content creator. A key contributor to public-sector innovation, they are a member of the Management Committee of the Curitiba City of Design Seal (Municipal Decree No. 1,482/2025) and collaborate with multiple governmental and institutional bodies, promoting design as a strategic tool for urban development and economic transformation.

Design as Infrastructure: Leveraging AI and Data to Drive Sustainable Urban Innovation As artificial intelligence and data-driven technologies reshape cities and economies, the role of design is evolving from a creative discipline into a strategic infrastructure for innovation. Drawing on over 20 years of experience at the intersection of design, public policy, and the creative economy, this talk explores how AI and data science can be integrated with design management to foster sustainable urban development and competitive ecosystems. The presentation will highlight real-world initiatives developed within institutional and governmental contexts, demonstrating how design-led strategies, supported by data intelligence and emerging technologies, can enhance decision-making, promote circular economy practices, and strengthen territorial development. It will also address the importance of governance, interdisciplinary collaboration, and public-private partnerships in scaling innovation. By positioning design as a bridge between technology, society, and policy, this session offers a framework for using AI not only as a technical tool, but as a catalyst for inclusive, sustainable, and human-centered transformation. Key Topics• Design as a strategic layer in AI and data-driven ecosystems• Integration of AI, data science, and design management in public policy• Creative economy and innovation ecosystems in the context of emerging technologies• Circular economy and sustainability powered by data intelligence• Governance, cities, and the role of design in shaping AI applications Target AudienceResearchers, policymakers, designers, data scientists, innovation managers, and professionals working at the intersection of technology, urban development, and sustainability. Key ContributionThis talk contributes a design-driven framework for integrating AI and data into real-world urban and institutional contexts, emphasizing impact, governance, and sustainability beyond purely technical approaches.