Livia Lazzaro Rezende

Dr. Livia Lazzaro Rezende is a Senior Lecturer in Design History and Theory at the School of Art & Design, University of New South Wales (UNSW), working on unceded Gadigal land. Her expertise spans

• Design history in Latin American, postcolonial, and Cold War contexts
• Transnational and intersectional methodologies
• Decolonial praxis in academia and education

She holds a PhD in History of Design from the V&A/Royal College of Art, an MA in Design from PUC-Rio, Brazil, and a BA in Industrial and Graphic Design from ESDI, Brazil. She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK) and holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Art & Design Education from the Royal College of Art.

Livia’s research focuses on

• Exhibition histories and design’s role in nation-building
• Environmental, cultural, and social impacts of design
• Decolonial methods in design education and curriculum reform
• Authoritarianism and modernization in Cold War Latin American design

She co-founded the international research collective OPEN to advance decolonial pedagogy.

Her scientific awards include

• UNSW Research Fellowships
• Design History Society Prizes
• Grants from AHRC (UK), Royal College of Art, and ACUADS (Australia)
• Recognition for teaching innovation and international collaboration

Livia supervises PhD, MPhil, and MFA candidates at UNSW and has mentored over 25 graduate students. Her editorial roles include Book Editor for Manchester University Press and Editor of the Journal of Design History’s Explorations section.