Monica Gaspar

Monica Gaspar is a Lecturer at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU), specifically within the Lucerne School of Design, Film and Art. She works as a lecturer in the BA Product Design program and serves as a mentor for BA thesis in product design (object, jewelry, textile, spatial) and supervisor for Master Research Thesis in Design. Her professional profile extends beyond academia as she is also an active freelance curator and author with international recognition.

• Universitat de Barcelona (Art History)
• Zurich University of the Arts (Cultural and Gender Studies)
• Escola Massana Barcelona (Jewelry Design)
• Academy of Fine Arts Vienna (Doctoral candidate)

Gaspar's research focuses on redefining the "applied" as an experimental and socially relevant field of action. Her work explores design cultures, craftsmanship as critical practices, cultures of wearing (bodies, objects and identity), exhibitions as research devices, and intersectional and decolonial perspectives in design and art. She has developed a distinctive approach that bridges art, design, and activism through curated exhibitions and theoretical contributions.

Her recent publications demonstrate a consistent trajectory exploring the intersections between material culture, critical theory, and social practice. Gaspar's work increasingly engages with decolonial perspectives, examining how design practices can challenge dominant narratives and power structures. She has developed innovative methodologies that position exhibitions themselves as research devices for investigating cultural interstices.

• Editorial Advisory Board Member, Journal for Jewellery Research (2017-present)
• Board Member, NDG Network for Design History (2019-present)
• Peer Reviewer, ICDHS International Committee for Design History and Design Studies (2018-present)
• Foundation Board Member, FHD Design History Foundation Barcelona (2016-present)
• Co-Convenor, DHS2021 Design History Society Annual Conference (2020)

Gaspar has shaped teaching at the interface between theory and practice through collaborations with art and design universities across Scandinavia, England, the Netherlands, and the USA. Her research projects include "Accelerating the pursuit of the SDGs in Swiss design education: Design Action Labs" and "Craft Round Tables: Shaping of digital transformation of work environments through human-centered craft competences." She previously served as a research associate at the Institute for Theory at Zurich University of the Arts (2013-2016) for the research project "Aesthetic Practices."