Synne Geirsdatter Frydenberg

Synne Geirsdatter Frydenberg is an Associate Professor at the Department of Design, Oslo School of Architecture and Design (AHO). She earned her PhD in 2024 with the dissertation Cultivating Serendipity in Design Complexity, building on her 2011 Master’s in Industrial Design from AHO, foundational studies at The Royal Danish Academy, and exchange experience at Berlin University of the Arts.

Her research focuses on fostering serendipity in complex design systems, particularly for safety-critical maritime workplaces. She contributes to major projects like the EU-funded SEDNA (Safe Maritime Operations under Extreme Conditions) and the Ocean Industries Concept Lab, with initiatives including OpenBridge, OpenAR, OpenZero, and OpenRemote. These projects aim to harmonize remote maritime workstation design and enhance AR navigation in Arctic conditions.

Her recent publications highlight trends in augmented reality, virtual fieldwork, and serendipity-driven design for maritime environments. She actively explores how AR and VR technologies can improve contextual understanding in design education and real-world applications.

Key collaborations include work with Kjetil Nordby, Jon Olav Husabø Eikenes, and Katie Aylward. Her expertise bridges interaction design, human-computer interaction, and design methodology in extreme operational contexts.