Manuela Taboada

Dr. Manuela Taboada is a Senior Lecturer in Visual Communication at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), holding dual roles in the Faculty of Business & Law (School of Advertising, Marketing & PR) and as an Adjunct Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Creative Industries (School of Design). She holds a PhD from the University of New England (Australia), a BA (Hons) in Industrial Design/Visual Communication from the Federal University of Bahia (Brazil), and a BSc in Computer Science from Salvador University (Brazil).

Her research focuses on collaborative design methodologies, systems thinking, decolonial design, and sustainable waste management. Notable projects include co-design initiatives for marine conservation in Fiji, plastic waste reduction strategies, and policy design frameworks. She co-leads the QUT Design Lab and QUT Centre for a Waste-Free World, emphasizing innovation through diversity and trust-driven collaboration.

Taboada has developed curricula in design education, including units like Design Consequences and Design & Creative Thinking. Her pedagogical approach integrates creativity as an entrepreneurial skill and designerly thinking for complex problem-solving. She actively supervises PhD candidates in areas such as design activism, systems thinking, and decolonial design.

Her recent work explores world-building methodologies through role-playing games to reimagine futures and address systemic challenges. Key collaborations include projects with Dr. Jane Turner on speculative design and Dr. Heather McKinnon on design justice interventions.

Taboada’s global experience spans Australia, Brazil, Timor-Leste, and Fiji, with a commitment to fostering systemic change through participatory design practices. Her research aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly environmental sustainability and responsible consumption.