Ricardo is a social designer, researcher and educator working and collaborating in diverse global contexts. He holds a MFA in Transdisciplinary Design from Parsons School of Design, New York, and a PhD in Design for Education from Monash University, Melbourne. Ricardo is currently a Lecturer at the Department of Art & Media, Aalto University, Finland.
1. WHAT I DO: SOCIAL DESIGN
My practice sits at the intersection of social design, embodied awareness and transformative education.
2. HOW I DO: TANGIBLE & INTANGIBLE OUTCOMES
The outcomes of my work are both tangible and intangible. They are often co-created. Hence, the outcomes are a result of the collaboration of a group of people. The outcomes include: learning experiences, tools, and spaces—as well as processes, protocols, routines, shifts and languages for the emerging new.
3. AREAS OF INTEREST
(1) the uses of generative tools and tangible artifacts as self-orienting devices—towards sense-making complexity and giving form to emergence;
(2) "the relational qualities of man-made artifacts, i.e., their abilities to occasion enchanting, amusing, or challenging encounters – the evocative, transformative, and holding powers of artifacts, respectively their potential to bring about meaningful associations, to “let people in”, to sustain engagement and capture human imagination over time" (K. Ackermann, Edith; MIT Media Lab);
(3) how mediated conversations about aesthetic principles and sensorial perception can influence decision-making in complex and changing environments;
(4) the uses of prototyping and tinkering as approaches to rehearsing, experimenting and testing possible alternative futures.
“A new wave of designers formally educated in human-centered design—taught to weave together research, interaction, visual and code to solve incredibly gnarly 21st-century problems—will move into leadership positions. They will push the industry to new heights of sophistication.”
4. WHERE?
Home-base: Helsinki (Finland) and Vitória (Brazil). (Past and/or current) collaborations and projects in: Aarhus, Berlin, Brussels, Cambridge, Florence, Helsinki, Izamal, Kathmandu, Los Angeles, Melbourne, Mexico City, Mumbai, New York City, Norre Snede, Oslo, Prato, Santiago, Stavanger, and Washington D.C.
5. Awards & GRANTS
Vice-Chancellor’s International Inter-Campus PhD Travel Grant (Monash University, 2022) (AUD $ 3,000 awarded to 18 researchers annually);
Stuart Foundation’s annual grant (2017) to support teacher development programs in Los Angeles (US$ 40,000). The Stuart Foundation is a California-based family foundation dedicated to improving the life of young people through education;
The Alternative–Solutions for the Social Domain at Milan Design Week, 2016 *(an iteration of this project has been selected as a finalist in the 2017 World Changing Ideas Award, by Fast Company);
The New Challenge: grand prize winner (US$ 5,000); social innovation award by The New School, 2016;
Unreasonable Lab Acceleration Program: thesis project selected among other 100 applicants by the prestigious Unreasonable Institute for an acceleration program at Columbia University;
Brazil Scientific Mobility Program: fully funded graduate scholarship (US$ 150,000) by the Brazilian Government (CAPES), 2014-16;
1st Place at Dartmouth Startup Weekend (Dartmouth College, 2015);
United Nations Summer School 2013: selected among 100 global leaders from a pool of 140 000 applicants. Watch video below; Read article here.
Ashoka and Staples Youth Social Entrepreneurship Award (US$ 1,000), 2008.
Video: United Nations Summer School. New York, 2013. Selected among 100 global leaders from a pool of 140 000 applicants.
