Dr. Hassan Sadeghi Naeini

Iran

Assoc. Prof. Hassan Sadeghi Naeini is a faculty member in the Department of Industrial Design at Iran University of Science and Technology, specializing in ergonomic design and sustainability. With over two decades of academic and industrial experience, he leads research and consultancy projects that integrate human-centered design with sustainable innovation. He is actively involved in international scholarly communities, contributes to peer-reviewed journals and academic books, and regularly presents at global conferences. Additionally, he has taught at several international universities, including KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Politecnico di Milano (POIMI), and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM).

Dr. Yasaman Khodadadeh

Iran

Yassaman Khodadadeh is an Associate Professor and the Head of the Industrial Design Department at the University of Tehran, Kish International Campus. She initiated the International PhD program in Industrial Design at the university, which collaborates with leading universities globally. She is also the founder and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Design Thinking. Her research focuses on areas such as children's design, health, behavior, positive design, user well-being, happiness, and sustainability, and she has contributed to the field through her publications.

Dr. Hadi Moradi

Iran

Hadi Moradi earned his B.S. in electrical and electronics engineering from the University of Tehran in 1989, and his M.S. and Ph.D. in robotics and intelligent systems from the University of Southern California in 1994 and 1999. He has worked in both industry and academia, including two years at FEM Engineering and positions at USC and SKKU in South Korea (2000–2008). Since 2008, he has been with the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at UT. His research focuses on computational psychology through games, intelligent systems, and robotics. Dr. Moradi has received several honors, including the best paper award at CLAWAR 2008, a finalist position at ROBIO 2011, and multiple awards for his cognitive screening and rehabilitation games. Active in IEEE since 2004, he has served as chair of the IEEE Iran Section and co-chair of the Service Robots Technical Committee of the Robotics and Automation Society.

Dr. Clémence Montagne

France

Clémence Montagne was trained as an urbanist at Sorbonne University, where she defended her PhD on transformation of city making processes and dévelopment of mass rapid transit system and infrastructure in 2016. Since septembre 2018, she is in the head of the Care design Lab, of L'Ecole de design Nantes Atlantique, where she oversees research projects on design, anticipation and co-design practices and as well as looking at the development on design thinking for health, design for care and energy transition and public design. She teaches in the graduate programm in french and in english research seminar, care design seminar and design thesis. Montagne's research focuses on city making for livable communities, with her phD fieldwork and action-research projects focusing on preparing socially and environnmentally responsible designers to fit in.

Dr. Ebrahim Bagheri Taleghani

Iran

Ebrahim Bagheri Taleghani is an Assistant Professor in the Industrial Design Department at Iran University of Art. He is a researcher in human-centered design (HCD) and design methodology, and has authored a book and numerous articles in this field. He serves on the scientific committee for the Industrial Design discipline in the National Education Assessment Organization. His contributions include membership in the scientific committee of the First International Conference on Packaging, Handicrafts, Sustainable Development at Al-Zahra University (2015), judging for the Idiran National Design Competition (2016–2017), and serving on the jury for the AISA Furniture Design Competition at the University of Tehran (2017). Since 2019, he has been on the editorial board of Dastavard Magazine, published by Iran University of Art. In 2025, he joined the scientific committee of the First Biennial Conference on Packaging Design and Innovation at the University of Guilan. He actively collaborates with scientific centers, publications, and industry in reviewing scholarly work and developing innovative products and services.

Dr. Joanna Jurga

Poland

Dr. Joanna Jurga – spatial designer, researcher, and educator. A specialist in designing for a sense of safety, with particular emphasis on life in isolation. In her work, she enjoys addressing issues related to synesthetic design and neuroarchitecture. An analog astronaut and a two-time commander of simulated space missions at the Lunar Research Mobile Station. Co-founder of the startup KOTA – an app that uses AI to optimize living spaces (on Earth and in space) to enhance user well-being. She has collaborated on research projects (Otodom Report “Emotions in a Square”) and participated in international exhibitions and festivals such as the Łódź Design Festival and Dutch Design Week. A finalist in competitions like MakeMe, Young Design, Innovation Ad, and Jutronauci. A juror in design-related competitions. The author of the podcast #BEZPIECZNIK and the book “Szałas na hałas.” She loves winter, practices freediving, and is an avid reader.

Dr. Nasser Koleini Mamaghani

Iran

Nasser Koleini Mamaghani received his M.Sc. degree in Architectural Design Engineering from Iran University of Science and Technology in 1993 and his Ph.D. in Industrial Design from Chiba University, Japan, in 2002. From 2002 to 2004, he served as a postdoctoral researcher in the Artifact Design Science Division, Faculty of Engineering, Chiba University, under the Postdoctoral Fellowship Program supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS). He is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Industrial Design at the School of Architecture and Environmental Design, Iran University of Science and Technology. His research interests include Kansei Engineering, Human-Oriented Design, Universal Design, Ergonomics, Physiological Anthropology, and Design Methodology. Dr. Koleini Mamaghani has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and international conferences and is the author of four books.

Dr. Carine Delanoë-Vieux

France

Carine Delanoë-Vieux is a design researcher. She is currently conducting research funded by the National Institute for Public Health Research at the Projekt laboratory of the University of Nîmes. She is also a postdoctoral researcher at the Archidessa Chair (Architecture, Design, Health), led by AP-HP, ENSA Val-de-Seine, and the Camondo School. In 2016, she co-founded lab-ah (laboratory of welcome and hospitality through design) at GHU Paris psychiatry & neurosciences with designer Marie Coirié. Previously, she founded and directed two other cultural structures integrated into hospitals in Lyon and Marseille. Additionally, she has contributed to the development of the interministerial agreement on Culture and Health and its implementation in the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region.

Dr. Josina Elizabeth Vink

Norway

Josina Vink is Associate Professor of Service Design at the Oslo School of Architecture and Design in Norway. Their research focuses on transforming health and care systems through design. Josina has worked as a service and systemic designer internationally within healthcare, including at the Mayo Clinic Center for Innovation in United States, Center for Addiction and Mental Health in Canada and Experio Lab in Sweden. They have extensive experience leading and facilitating participatory design processes in healthcare, government, non-profit and community settings. In their practice, they have developed new services, supported policy change, facilitated shifts in practices across sectors, and led social lab processes. Through their research and practice, Josina works toward facilitating structural changes in health and care systems to enhance equity.

Dr. Kristina Niedderer

UK

Professor Kristina Niedderer is Professor of Design and Professorial Research Lead at Manchester Metropolitan University. With a background as a goldsmith and silversmith in Germany, she later trained in design and research in the UK. Kristina has held academic positions at the Universities of Hertfordshire and Wolverhampton, where she advanced to Professor of Design and Craft. She is widely recognized for her work on mindfulness in design for behaviour change, particularly in the fields of health and sustainability. She also played a pivotal role in establishing craft research as a discipline by founding the Journal of Craft Research in 2008. Her research explores how design can foster mindful interaction and support behaviour change, with a special focus on dementia care. She has led several major European research projects, including MinD and IDoService, aimed at empowering people with early-stage dementia. Her work integrates emotional expression, technology, and movement through mindful design, supported by various UK research councils. Kristina has also contributed extensively to the design research community through leadership roles in the Design Research Society (DRS) and as an international reviewer for major funding bodies like the AHRC, ESRC, and WHO.

Claire Fauchille

France

Trained at the École Supérieure d'Art et de Design de Reims, Claire is passionate about the relationship between design and care. At Humaniteam, she ensures the connection between the stakeholders of a project, from framing to monitoring the implementation of proposals. She particularly enjoys field immersion and user analysis, ideation during participatory workshops with users, and training.

Dr. Seyed Mehdi Alavi

Iran

Dr. Seyed Mehdi Alavi is an Associate Professor at the National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB) and the Faculty of Biology at the University of Tehran. He holds a Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the University of Angers, France. His primary research bridges molecular studies of plant-pathogenic bacteria and the genetic mechanisms of microbial pigments and plant bio-oils with the advancement of the bioeconomy paradigm. Dr. Alavi is dedicated to developing bitechnological innovations to replace fossil-based products, reduce carbon emissions, and address the climate crisis, aiming to protect human health and the planet. He is also a leading voice in converging biology with bio-philosophy and bio-art to foster transformative changes in our economic and social systems. He is the author of the seminal book "Bioeconomy: Knowledge Foundations, Policy Strategies, and Industrial Innovations" (2025).

Dr. Sonia Massari

Italy

Sonia Massari (Ph.D. in Food Experience Design, University of Florence) is a researcher at the University of Pisa, Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, PAGE research group and teaches at ISIA Design Rome. She has over 20 years of experience in Food Design and Innovation, human–food interaction, sustainability education, and the co-creation of agri-food systems. She directed Gustolab International for 13 years, was Academic Director of the University of Illinois Food Studies program in Italy, scientific advisor to the Barilla Foundation (2012–2023), and Director of the Academy at the Future Food Institute (2020–2024). She co-founded F.O.R.K. Food Design Organisation, the world’s largest non-profit international platform dedicated to food design. She continues to teach and provide consultancy in Food Design at several national and international universities and institutions. Her latest book is titled Food Design for the Real World ( Franco Angeli- openaccess )

Dr. Adel Mazloumi

Iran

Prof. Adel Mazloumi, Ph.D. is Guest Professor at Nagoya City University, Japan, and Professor of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics at Tehran University of Medical Sciences. His research focuses on Human-Centered System Design, Smart Ergonomics, HEP Model in Ergonomics

Vahid Ahmadian

Iran

Vahid Ahmadian is a creative and experienced lighting designer, born in 1990, specializing in crafting inspiring and functional visual environments through light. He holds a degree in architecture with a focus on lighting design from recognized national and international institutions. With an impressive portfolio of over 200 urban lighting projects and more than 800 private lighting designs across various cities in Iran, Ahmadian has established himself as a leading figure in architectural lighting. As the Director of the Lighting and Architecture Research Center at the University of Tehran and a lecturer in lighting design, interior design, architecture, and urban design, he plays a key role in advancing lighting education and culture in the country. His notable collaborations include consulting for the municipalities of Tehran and Qom, developing public lighting standards, and serving as the CEO of Hi Noor Company. He is constantly seeking creative, sustainable, and cost-effective solutions to enhance the quality of spatial lighting experiences

Dr. Nader Jahanmehr

Iran

Dr. Nader Jahanmehr, an Associate Professor and Health Economist at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (SBMU), is a leading expert at the intersection of three key fields: Health Economics, Behavioral Sciences, and Artificial Intelligence. With experience beginning in 2004, he possesses deep expertise in analyzing complex health systems and delivering innovative, evidence-based solutions. In his executive career, Dr. Jahanmehr has held key positions including Head of the Health Economics Department at the Iranian Ministry of Health, Head of the Health Management and Policy Department, and Vice Dean for Research at the School of Management and Medical Education at SBMU. He actively collaborates with national and international research and policy-making bodies, including the Ministry of Health and the National Institute for Medical Research Development (NIMAD), as well as with the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) on the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study. With over 60 scientific publications, his central vision is to drive systemic innovation across Iran's health landscape. He aims to bridge national policy-making with the private innovation ecosystem by leveraging an integrated toolkit of AI, behavioral economics, design thinking, and systems thinking. This holistic approach aims to architect more efficient and equitable health policies while simultaneously fostering a new wave of preventive health solutions.

Dr. Soroush Lohrasbi

Iran

Dr. Soroush Lohrasbi is a cognitive psychologist, occupational therapist, and Associate Professor at Kharazmi University, specializing in computer-based neuropsychological assessment (CBNA) and VR-based mental health rehabilitation. He is the Founder and CEO of VESAL Mental Health and Rehabilitation Center, where he has led more than 15 years of clinical innovation in cognitive profiling, neuromodulation, QEEG-based brain mapping, and immersive therapeutic technologies. Dr. Lohrasbi is an official partner of Virtuleap and SCHUHFRIED GmbH, and collaborates with the National Brain Mapping Laboratory to advance neurocognitive measurement and digital therapy tools. He holds active clinical licenses from the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), Iran Medical Council (IRIMC), and the Psychology & Counselling Organization (PCO), and is a professional member of both the APA and AOTA. His research focuses on how VR environments and cognitive task design can enhance emotional regulation, attention, executive function, and real-world mental health outcomes.

Dr. Bijan Aryana

Sweden

Bijan Aryana is a Senior Lecturer in Industrial Design and serves as the Director of the MSc Industrial Design Engineering programme at Chalmers University of Technology. His primary focus is on exploring novel design processes and methodologies, with particular emphasis on their application in areas of significant societal impact. Dr Aryana’s research interests span diverse domains, including design for cultural differences, design to empower business and enterprise empowerment, and design aimed at enhancing healthcare outcomes.

Dr. Amirhossein Takian

Iran

Prof. Amirhossein Takian (MD, MPH, PhD, FHEA) is Full Professor and Head of Global Health Policy at Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), where he founded the Centre of Excellence for Global Health and the Health Equity Research Centre. Internationally, he serves on WHO’s Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee for Health Policy and Systems Research and is a Visiting Professor at Imperial College London, UCL, and the Graduate Institute, Geneva. He has led over €7 million in research, authored more than 250 articles and 25 books, and mentored over 100 graduate students. His research focuses on good governance, health equity, refugee health, and evidence-informed policymaking. Prof. Takian has received multiple national and international awards, including TUMS Education Award (2025) and National Figure for Social Responsibility (2024). A global keynote speaker and editorial leader, he is widely recognized for advancing health policy and global health scholarship.

Dr. Evangelia Chrysikou

UK

Dr Evangelia Chrysikou is Associate Professor at BSSC UCL and Founder/Program Director of the MSc Healthcare Facilities. Multi-awarded RIBA architect and healthcare planner. She has published widely and has won several prestigious grants and fellowships including Horizon 2020, UKRI, Wellcome, British Academy, Royal Society of New Zealand, Sasakawa Foundation. Member of the National Accessibility Authority, Hellenic Republic by invitation from the Greek Prime Minister. She was the coordinator of the Environment Section of the EIPonAHA, EU and has worked as a consultant for international government bodies such as the Japanese MOFA, Peru Reconstruction Mechanism and the British Government for projects related to healthcare planning and architecture. Former Vice-President of the Urban Public Health section of EUPHA. ULI Life Sciences and Healthcare Council Leadership Committee Member.

Dr. Hamid Allahverdipour

Iran

Professor Hamid Allahverdipour is a distinguished leader in the field of Health Education and Promotion. He serves as the Dean of the Department of Health Education and Promotion at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences and holds significant national roles, including Head of the Iranian Health Education and Promotion Association and Secretary of the Board of Health Education and Promotion at the Ministry of Health. Since 2011, he has been the Editor-in-Chief of Health Promotion Perspectives. With a PhD in Health Education and a career spanning over three decades, his prolific research focuses on applying behavioral change theories to substance abuse prevention, chronic disease management, and mental health. This is evidenced by over 150 peer-reviewed publications. A dedicated educator, he has taught a wide range of subjects, from public health fundamentals to advanced doctoral theories. Through his research, teaching, and leadership, Professor Allahverdipour is a pivotal figure in advancing public health in Iran and globally.

Shadmehr Rastin

Iran

Shadmehr Rastin is an architect and screenwriter with an MA in Architecture from the University of Tehran, Faculty of Fine Arts. He currently teaches screenwriting and architecture in film at the college level, blending his expertise in both fields. Since 2007, he has been an active member of the Architecture Committee in the Academy of Art’s Architecture Cinema Conferences as well as the Center for Tehran City Studies. In his architectural career, Rastin has held several influential positions. He served as the Chief Secretary of the High-Rise Building Conference (2014–2016) and was a member of the Tehran City Specialized Council (1993–1995). He also worked as a research expert at the Cultural Spaces Development Company of Tehran Municipality (1995–1997) and contributed to the Tehran Municipality Studies and Research Center (2005–2009). From 2004 to 2011, he participated in preparing and implementing the Milad Tower Strategic Document. Beyond administrative and research roles, he has produced, directed, and researched over twenty television programs and documentaries about Tehran and has served as a jury member for the Qazvin City Entrance Design Project (2008). Rastin has also written several articles on architecture, further contributing to the discourse on architectural studies.