Chiara Cola

Chiara Cola is a Senior Lecturer at London Metropolitan University within The Cass School of Art, Architecture and Design. With an MA in Media and Communication Studies from the University of Rome 'La Sapienza', she blends expertise in digital art, textile design, and immersive reality tools with academic research. Her work explores the intersection of Italian Futurism and VR design, and she actively contributes to exhibitions in galleries like Art Basel Miami and Whitechapel Gallery.

• Teaching roles: National Saturday Club of Art and Design (Tutor, 2018-2023), Associate Lecturer and Senior Lecturer in Interior Design BA modules
• Professional affiliations: Research group Creature, ASVOF
• Selected presentations: 'Exploring the connections between Italian Futurism and VR design' at Futurism in Progress Symposium (2024)

Chiara's academic research investigates cross-disciplinary practices in design, focusing on immersive reality tools interconnected with the legacy of the Italian Futurist movement. She has integrated these themes into exhibitions such as the Making Matters shows (2023-2024) and delivered specialized courses in Print Design, Multimedia Design, and Fashion Styling at institutions across the UK, UAE, and Italy.

Her professional achievements include costume design for Academy Award-winning films like 'The Grand Budapest Hotel' and textile designs published in Vogue Italia and Harper's Bazaar Russia. She has been recognized with an Advance HE Fellowship (2021) and maintains active freelance practice as a digital artist and creative director.