Izabela Derda

Izabela Derda is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Media and Communication at the Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication, Erasmus University Rotterdam. Her work sits at the intersection of media practice, creative industries, and digital innovation, with a strong emphasis on co-creative processes and emerging technologies.

• Ph.D. in Media and Communication
• M.A. in Film and TV Producing, Polish National Film School in Łódź
• Certificate in Business and Management of Entertainment, UCLA

Her research investigates how digitalization and artificial intelligence reshape creative practices, particularly in museums and advertising. She explores media as a network integrating humans and technologies, focusing on value co-creation, audience engagement, and new forms of collaboration. Her work is highly interdisciplinary, drawing from media studies, design, economics, and human-computer interaction.

Recent publications reveal a strong trend toward human-centered applications of AI in cultural institutions, data-driven exhibition design, and the paradoxical nature of creativity in commercial industries. Her scholarship consistently emphasizes participatory models, ethical technology integration, and the evolving role of practitioners in digital environments.

• Multi-award-winning media producer
• Jury member at Cannes Lions, Eurobest, Clios, Cristal Festival
• Advisory board member, SXSW Pitch

She co-leads the ERMeCHS research cluster Value in Creative Economy (ViCE) and contributes to national research themes on digitalization and new work models. She has delivered invited talks and presentations at academic and professional venues, including Hogeschool Leiden, and actively collaborates across institutions. While no specific grants are mentioned, her involvement in large-scale research clusters and funded programs suggests active grant engagement.

Izabela is embedded in the ERMeCHS (Erasmus Research and Modelling for Cultural Heritage and Society) initiative, particularly within the Value in Creative Economy and Responsible Engagement with AI, Culture and Technology clusters. These teams focus on ethical innovation, digital transformation, and sustainable value creation in cultural and creative sectors.