Life-Centred Research practices, this year’s thematic focus was local food systems through the lens of the Bergamo Food Policy. This policy is a comprehensive strategy aimed at creating a sustainable, fair, and healthy local food system. The goal is to gain deep insights to address key challenges and then create holistic solutions that improve everyone's access to healthy and nutritious food. Through a hands-on research process, students gained skills to observe, analyse, and design with empathy, accessibility, and inclusivity, creating meaningful and lasting impacts on the community and its future.
Students engaged with the rich ecosystem of Bergamo and its surroundings. Through conversations with the local community and observations of the natural environment, they explored the complex interactions between human life, the environment, and local ecosystems.
Thematic Challenges:
The week ended with an afternoon of presentations to those who had partnered with the students, as interviewees and mentors. A heartfelt thank you to the Municipality of Bergamo, Dispensa Sociale & Re-store, Cooperativa Alchemia, Cooperative Aretè and Il Sole e la Terra and especially to Raoul Tiraboschi, Gabriele Rinaldi, Oriana Ruzzini, Claudio Ceccherelli for their invaluable support in making this project happen.
Kara Pecknold is a designer and sustainability leader with over 25 years of experience who guides global organisations through transformation and systems change. She uses design as a strategic tool for impact by embedding sustainable principles into products, services, experiences, and culture. From Fortune 500s to social enterprises, Kara has helped teams strengthen collaboration, broaden perspectives, and translate insights into meaningful action. Her work with executives and emerging leaders has reshaped departments and business lines. Grounded, strategic, and deeply human in her approach, Kara brings a unique blend of analytical rigour and empathetic presence to every engagement, enabling teams to not only respond to complexity but transform within it.
She hails from Vancouver, Canada but now lives in Munich where she has been a VP of Design at frog. She holds a master’s degree in Design from Emily Carr University and loves to spend time doing yoga, walking in nature and enjoying good food.
Shruti is an interaction designer and design researcher based in Berlin. Over the last 15+ years, she has worked at strategic design consultancy IDEO, as well as product organisations such as Zalando, N26 and Nokia. In the last year, she has pivoted to working independently as a fractional design leader and consultant, supporting teams do their best work and companies to define impactful products.
Understanding how design can center the planet and all life is Shruti’s forever learning journey. She enjoys sharing her expertise and experiences through teaching, podcasts, writing, and mentorship. Shruti was born and raised in India, and is an alumnus of CIID and Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology.
