Executive Board

Meet the New DRS Executive Board (2026–2028)

 During the DRS2026 Biennial Conference, the Design Research Society (DRS) elected its new Executive Board for the 2026–2028 term, alongside the new Chair of the International Advisory Council (IAC). Together, they bring diverse perspectives and expertise to guide the Society’s strategic development, strengthen its international community, and advance its mission of supporting design research worldwide.

The Executive Board is the Society’s principal governing body, responsible for providing strategic direction, ensuring institutional and financial sustainability, and overseeing the continued development of DRS. Working closely with the Executive Director and the Chair of the International Advisory Council (IAC), the Board supports the Society’s mission to advance design research and strengthen its global community.
The newly elected DRS Executive Board (2026–2028) comprises Chair Hua Dong (Royal College of Art, UK), Vice Chair Fernando Secomandi (TU Delft, Netherlands), Honorary Treasurer Luca Simeone (Aalborg University, Denmark), Honorary Secretary Colin Gray (Indiana University Bloomington, USA), and Ordinary Member Paulina Contreras Correa (Universidad del Desarrollo, Chile), alongside the new Chair of the International Advisory Council (IAC), Sara Lenzi (University of Deusto, Spain).

Looking Ahead: A Shared Vision for DRS
In its first meetings, the newly elected Executive Board has begun discussing its priorities and aspirations for the coming years, bringing together diverse perspectives and a shared enthusiasm for strengthening the Society and its international community.

From left to right: Hua Dong (Chair), Paulina Contreras Correa (Ordinary Member), Fernando Secomandi (Vice Chair),

Sara Lenzi (IAC Chair), Luca Simeone (Honorary Treasurer), and Colin Gray (Honorary Secretary).

The new Board takes office at a symbolic moment. "2026 marks the 60th anniversary of the Design Research Society, and I am honoured to be elected its Chair," said Chair Hua Dong. Recent years have seen DRS expand its global membership and promote design research and education through our conferences, publications (including the digital library and a new journal), Special Interest Groups, and new initiatives such as the DRS Connect and the DRS Fellow Inaugural lectures. We shall provide more support to early-career researchers and PhD researchers, and collaborate with partners to further advance design research and education.   
 

Growing globally also means representing that community fairly. “I hope to advance diversity and inclusion in design research worldwide, particularly in academic publishing,” said Vice Chair Fernando Secomandi. “Drawing on my experience as a researcher working across geographical and institutional contexts, I aim to explore how more transparent governance can help DRS better represent and serve its global community.”

That commitment to inclusion also shapes how the community comes together. “Preparations for DRS2028 at Hunan University are already underway, and we are assembling the team that will shape the conference,” said Honorary Treasurer Luca Simeone. “Our ambition is to make DRS2028 an opportunity to experiment with new formats and explore more inclusive and sustainable ways of bringing our international community together.” In parallel, a new IAC Working Group on Conferences will develop practical proposals to improve future DRS conferences and prepare the brief for selecting the DRS2030 host. Universities interested in hosting should look out for the call, expected in late spring 2027.

“The future of DRS lies in our ability to connect new voices, knowledge and regions. As DRS celebrates its 60th anniversary, launching DRS Conecta marks a particularly meaningful milestone, opening a new chapter for the Society in Latin America. Guided by the motto: Local Knowledge · Global Dialogue · Collaborative Futures, we seek to recognise diverse forms of knowledge and perspectives, connect communities, and transform dialogue into meaningful opportunities for collaboration. Our vision is for each region to become an active hub in a more diverse, inclusive and interconnected global design research community,” said Paulina Contreras Correa, DRS Executive Board Member.

Together, the new leadership looks forward to advancing the Society’s mission of connecting and supporting the international design research community, fostering collaboration, and expanding opportunities for researchers and institutions worldwide.

Group photo of the DRS International Advisory Council (IAC) and Executive Board members.