Fernando Carvalho

Dr. Fernando Carvalho is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Industrial Design at the School of Design, San Francisco State University. He holds a PhD in Design from Loughborough University (UK) and an MFA in Industrial Design from the University of Notre Dame (USA), alongside two BFA degrees from the Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro. His interdisciplinary research focuses on participatory design methodologies and behavioral insights applied to healthcare systems, emphasizing staff behavior change and patient experience improvement. He developed the Participatory Design for Behavior Change framework during his doctoral studies. His professional practice spans healthcare products, medical devices, Paralympic sports accessories, and educational solutions for clients like the NHS, UNICEF, and Heineken.

Dr. Carvalho has taught and contributed to curriculum development across diverse institutions in Brazil, the UK, and the USA, including afterschool programs in Rio de Janeiro’s favelas and university-level design education. His creative work includes exhibitions at the Museum of Modern Art (Brazil), the National Museum of Decorative Arts (Spain), and Meramec Contemporary Art Gallery (USA). He co-founded LEVANTE Design, a studio specializing in socially impactful projects for nonprofits, governments, and corporations. His research has been published in journals like INNOVATION and presented at conferences such as PDC, IDSA, and DRS.