Rūta Valušytė

She is a PhD candidate at Politecnico di Milano, Design Department. Has the educational background in design and innovation management. Her research is focused on the Role of Design in Interdisciplinary Interaction. As a professional designer she developed her career since 2004 in Graphic design, Interior design and Retail design fields and has performed design projects for multinational brands in Lithuania. As of 2013 Associate Professor at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) on “Product development” and “Semester project”. Before was a lecturer at Vilnius Art Academy, Kaunas faculty and Vytautas Magnus University. As of 2014 is head of KTU Design Centre and a member of Interdisciplinary Studies and Engineering Design Study Program committees at KTU. Previously was head of Design department at Vilnius Art Academy, Kaunas faculty, Design department. Actively involved in forming Design, Cultural & Creative Industries Policy in Lithuania. Was a member of Lithuanian Smart Specialization workgroup at Lithuanian Ministry of Finance, responsible for the pathfinders of Creative and Inclusive Society priority for 2014-2020. Was a leader of Lithuanian Regional Implementation Group at Incompass Project – Regional Policy improvement for financially sustainable creative incubators units.

She is a legal representative of KTU in Lithuanian Cultural & Creative Industries Association. Is a member of Kaunas city municipality workgroup responsible for a strategy of Kaunas as a City of Design at UNESCO Creative Cities Network . Is a member of Kaunas – European Cultural Capital 2022 project creative team, with the lead position for the “Future city” program. Co-founder and curator of few projects aiming to promote and raise awareness about Design in Lithuania. Since early age participated in various art and design contests and has obtained few awards. Co-founder at DesignLibrary Kaunas.