Anna Vallgårda

Anna Vallgårda is a Professor and Head of the Human-Computer Interaction and Design section at the IT University of Copenhagen (ITU), leading the IxD Lab. Her research focuses on designing ethical and ecologically committed futures, particularly in critical interaction design practices, care technologies, and the interplay between aesthetics and attunement. She emphasizes exploratory design that challenges technological norms through artefacts that provoke critical reflection.

Her work spans projects like TRACE (TRAnsformations in CarE), investigating human-technology interactions in care practices, and previous initiatives such as designing for movement integration in schools and concert atmospheres. Vallgårda has collaborated internationally and contributed to media discussions on design crises, digital health practices, and innovative technologies.

Key research interests include FemTech, deeply situated design, and the ethical dimensions of technology. Her publications explore topics like self-tracking, material programming, and temporal design, with a focus on fostering responsible technological futures. She actively engages in academic activities, including organizing conferences and reviewing roles.

Vallgårda’s lab, IxD Lab, emphasizes material experimentation and computational composites. Current projects aim to redefine care practices through technology while addressing ecological and ethical concerns. She mentors PhD candidates and collaborates across disciplines to advance transformative design approaches.