Supervisor in the Doctoral School

Interdisciplinary artist, curator, and designer affiliated with the Wrocław Academy of Art and Design, where she leads the Studio of Mindful Design for Interactive Spaces and Objects. From 2013 to 2015, she was a member of the Expo Milano team. She is the author of installations, artistic interventions, and participatory projects at the intersection of art and design. Her practice focuses on mindfulness, socio-environmental empathy, and a critical approach to contemporary conditions. As an educator, she develops Mindful Design Studio—a platform that combines design practice with reflection on the role of design in the face of contemporary crises and the post-Anthropocene. Her latest research, presented in the publication Troska > Wzrost >> OOO # Foundations of Mindful Design Studio, explores design as a practice of care, relationality, and responsibility in a world beyond the paradigm of unlimited growth.

1  Curator of subsequent editions of the exhibition Empathic Design, or Technological Care for a Better Tomorrow https://youtu.be/YyBNbsxRs6U

2  Author of a series of artistic interventions, actions, and exhibitions developed within the Deplastification project, addressing the issue of plastic pollution in marine environments, presented nationally and internationally (including PlastSupper at Galeria Industria in Brno (CZ) and at CSW Łaźnia (PL); NAO in public space in Ilhabela (BR)).

3  Recipient of the Prime Minister of Poland Award for scientific achievements

4  Author of numerous articles on post-growth design and its interdisciplinary extensions, including:
The Post-Growth Potentials of Design. How Techno-Empathy Can Support a Speculative, Critical and Mindful Approach. Insights from the Mindful Design Studio | Degrowth Journal
Mindful Design and Techno-Empathy. Toward a Better Tomorrow | DRS Learn X Design Conference Series
AMPS Proceedings Series 43.1 (chapter 11, p. 96)
Post-Growth Innovation Practice: Techno-empathetic and Critical Insights from Mindful Design Studio | Journal of Design Service and Social Innovation

5  Speaker at invited lectures and national and international conferences, including the Hong Kong International Forum on Design Service & Social Innovation, DRS Learn X Design 2025, Technarte (Bilbao), International Degrowth Conference / ESEE (Pontevedra), CICA NMAC 2024 (Seoul), and Queensland University of Technology (Brisbane).

Empathic design

troska_wzrost_ooo_on-line.pdf

lab 411 asp wro (@empathic_design) • Zdjęcia i filmy na Instagramie

Dominika Sobolewska – Portfolio

Language of consultations: Polish, English

Characteristics of the projects and research in which the PhD student is to be subsumed, including the expected practical and theoretical competencies of the PhD student:

Research in the broadly understood field of post-growth design, as well as related artistic practices of a discursive, critical, speculative, social, pro-environmental, and participatory nature. Conducted in the spirit of integrating the doctoral candidate’s professional experience with interdisciplinary knowledge acquired through consciously designed experiments, this research will require the ability to combine creative strategies with theoretical frameworks from other disciplines.

Therefore, prospective doctoral candidates are expected not only to demonstrate well-documented artistic and design expertise, but also a broader perspective on contemporary design challenges. Candidates should be able to identify emerging potentials of artistic practice resulting from socio-civilizational transformations, as well as possess an initial understanding of current methodologies in this field. Processes leading up to the final outcome are considered as important as the result itself. Where possible, collaboration with theorists, specialists from other disciplines, and external partners is encouraged.

Characteristics of didactic cooperation between the supervisor and the PhD student:

The doctoral candidate will actively participate in educational initiatives led by the supervisor, including student consultations, team-based projects, participatory actions, exhibition organization, and collaboration with cultural institutions and creative communities.

The candidate is expected to demonstrate the ability to conduct critical analyses of social and environmental needs, engage in research in practice, and clearly articulate and present the outcomes of their work.

Additional qualifications are welcome, including strong communication skills, the ability to work collaboratively and coordinate projects, knowledge of contemporary design and artistic methodologies, experience in applying new technologies in creative processes, and a background in user-oriented research. Experience at the intersection of design and social practice, as well as expertise and interests across diverse fields of art and design—from large-scale exhibitions to socially engaged and environmentally responsive installations—will be considered an asset.