Personal profile
Personal profile
Background in Graphic Design, PhD in Product Design from the Sapienza University of Rome, affiliate Fellow of Chartered Society of Designers. Currently she is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Industrial Design at XJTLU.
Her research interests include transdisciplinary design, design methodologies, and futures thinking.
She supervised UG and PG design projects and dissertations across Graphic Design Industrial Design, and Creative Entrepreneurship disciplines.
She presents her research through publishing in academic journals and at the international design conferences, such as Cumulus, Human-Computer Interaction, IHIET, EAD, and others. She has been invited as a keynote speaker to the China Museum Day, Chongqing educational Forum, St Petersburg Cultural Forum, etc.
She currently serves as the Departmental Graduate Studies Officer for the IND Department and Design School Cumulus Officer.
Research interests
Transdisciplinary Design
Design Methodologies
Futures Thinking
Healthcare Design
User Interface Design
Experience
IND Deputy Head (2021-2024)
Executive Chair for Cumulus Regional Seminar "Design for Intercultural Innovation" 2024
Editor for Cumulus Regional Meeting Proceedings "Design for Intercultural Innovation" 2025
Course designer for "Design Thinking" Online course on Learning Mall
PI in the SURF research project on Design for the Visually Impaired (2025)
Coordinator for the Cumulus Working Group "Future of Industrial Design Education and Research"
PI in the SFP research project on Designing Interfaces for the Medical Equipment (Inhalation Anesthesia Device) (2023)
Teaching
IND209 Studio Concepts and Interactions
IND217 Design Studio Design for Market
IND405 Transdisciplinary Design
Education/Academic qualification
PhD in Product Design - Sapienza University of Rome, 2020
MSc in Product Design - Sapienza University of Rome, 2016
MA in Graphic Design - St Petersburg University, 2012
Research areas
- Design Research
- Design Methodologies
- Futures Thinking
- Transdisciplinary Design
- Healthcare Design
- User Interface Design
Person Types
- Staff
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth -
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities -
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Projects
- 4 Finished
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SFP: Mapping the ecosystem of practice-based research in Industrial Design within the Cumulus Association
Zolotova, M. (PI), Imparato, M. (PI) & Bernardo, N. (Team member)
2/01/23 → 29/12/23
Project: Internal Research Project
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SFP: Cognitive Ergonomics Analysis to develop Design Guidelines for Medical Equipment User Interface Design
Zolotova, M. (PI)
1/01/23 → 31/01/24
Project: Internal Research Project
File -
TDF: UX manual for a New Learning & Teaching Experience
Zolotova, M. (PI)
1/09/20 → 31/08/22
Project: Internal Research Project
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(RE)DISCOVERING EMPATHETIC ROOTS: A BALANCED SYSTEM FOR HUMAN-AI CO-DESIGN
Zolotova, M. & Nguyen, K., 2026, (Accepted/In press) Roots/Routes in Design. Cumulus Association, (Cumulus Conference Proceedings Series).Research output: Chapter in Book or Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Proceeding › peer-review
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DESIGNING CONNECTIONS: STRATEGIES FOR ENGAGING YOUNG DESIGN RESEARCHERS
Zolotova, M. & Bernardo, N., 24 Mar 2026, Ethical Leadership: A New Frontier for Design Cumulus Conference Proceedings Nantes 2025. Degouzon, F. & Gagnepain, J. (eds.). Cumulus Association, Vol. 14. (Cumulus Conference Proceedings Series).Research output: Chapter in Book or Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Proceeding › peer-review
Open Access -
Integrating Somatic Empathy, AI Analysis, and Co-Design for Blind and Low-Vision Users
Zolotova, M., Esteban, V., Nguyen, K. & Aleksandrova, T., Apr 2026, (Accepted/In press) DESIGNING SMART SOLUTIONS FOR VULNERABLE USERS: PRODUCTS, SERVICES, PROCESSES, AND METHODOLOGIES. Imbesi, S., Bufagni, A., Frausin, M. & Giambattista, A. (eds.). CRC/Taylor & FrancisResearch output: Chapter in Book or Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
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Creating Change Through Design: A Cross-University Collaboration to Address Socio-Economic Challenges in China through Multidisciplinary Design-led Approach
Drzewiecka, A. A., Azadian Qomi, M. & Zolotova, M., Jul 2025, Proceeding of 10th International Conference on research in Humanities and Social Sciences.Research output: Chapter in Book or Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Proceeding › peer-review
Open Access446 Downloads (Pure) -
Design Alchemy" transforming research into real-world impact (Participatory Project on Academic Design-Research at Design Shanghai 2025)
Zolotova, M. (Designer) & Aleksandrova, T. (Designer), Jun 2025Research output: Practice-based research output › Exhibition/ Event/ Festival › Curated works: Physical Exhibition/ Event/ Festival
File472 Downloads (Pure)
Activities
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Designers Rethink Wealth. Futures Thinking Skills for the HCD+ Movement
Zolotova, M. (Speaker)
26 Feb 2026Activity: Talk or presentation › Presentation at conference/workshop/seminar
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Designers Rethink the Wealth. Futures Thinking Skills for the HCD+ Movement
Zolotova, M. (Speaker)
26 Feb 2026Activity: Talk or presentation › Presentation at conference/workshop/seminar
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The Design of Care
Corti, E. (Organiser), Parati, I. (Participant), Lo, C.-H. (Participant), Huang, M. (Participant), Zolotova, M. (Participant), Albano, S. (Participant), Scott, P. (Participant), ten Bhömer, M. (Participant) & Mao, L. (Participant)
3 Dec 2025 → 5 Dec 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Organising an event e.g. a conference, workshop, …
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NextGen Hub. Design Thinking Workshop for High School Teachers
Esteban, V. (Participant) & Zolotova, M. (Participant)
15 Nov 2025Activity: Other
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Design East Show at CIFF Shanghai 2025
Parati, I. (Organiser), Corti, E. (Participant), Zolotova, M. (Participant), Esteban, V. (Participant), Jiang, L. (Participant), de Baan, J. (Participant), Yu, J. (Participant), Wang, H. (Participant), Parati, I. (Participant), Yu, Y. (Participant), Wang, X. (Organiser) & Parati, I. (Participant)
9 Sept 2025 → 12 Sept 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Organising an event e.g. a conference, workshop, …