On 25 March 2026, Vilnius Academy of Arts hosted the "DESIG*ness" final project conference, co-funded by the European Commission within the Erasmus+ framework. The event brought together project partners, researchers, designers, and stakeholders to discuss the role of inclusive design in art and design education.
The conference highlights the results of the DESIG*ness project, an international initiative aimed at strengthening inclusive approaches within art and design academies. Participants explored how design education can respond to societal challenges by integrating accessibility, equality, and inclusive thinking into creative practices.
The event was be moderated by Audronė Drungilaitė-Čepienė, Director of the Design Innovation Centre at Vilnius Academy of Arts, while the project activities at VDA led by Prof. Saulius Jusionis from Klaipėda faculty.
Conference venue: Vilnius Academy of Arts, Maironio St. 3, Vilnius, Room 112.
Conference agenda:
10:00 – 10:30 Welcome coffee
10:30 – 10:40 Welcome speeches
prof. Marius Pranas Šaliamoras, the Dean of Vilnius Faculty
assoc. prof. Martynas Lapas, the Dean of Klaipėda Faculty
10:40 – 10:55 “DESIG*ness project: Designing inclusion in Art and Design Academies”, Federica Doglio, DESIG*ness Project Manager, Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti, Italy
10:55 – 11:10 “Project Communication Strategy and Stakeholder Engagement”, Benedetto Puccia, Communication Area BAM! Strategie Culturali, Italy
11:10 – 11:25 “From Vision to Impact: the DESIG*ness Journey towards Inclusive Design Education”, prof. Saulius Jusionis, Head of Interior Design Department at Klaipėda faculty, Vilnius Academy of Arts, Lithuania
11:25 – 11:40 “Project outcomes, Impact and Continuation”, Art.D. Vineta Kreigere, Art Academy of Latvia, Latvia
11:40 – 11:55 “DESIG*ness Toolkit”, Luca Poncellini, Head of Department of Design and Applied Arts, Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti, Italy
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch
13:00 – 13:15 "Promoting Equality: The Role of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson. Best Practices on Inclusivity", Rusnė KIRTIKLYTĖ, Senior Advisor Equal Opportunities Integration Group
13:15 – 13:45 “I Solved the Design Challenge. So Why Bring People Into It?” (itrauktis.lt, Universal Design for Learning Guide, Accessibility Guide), Jonas Liugaila, Partner and design strategist at the research and design agency The Critical, Board Member of International Council of Design
13:45 – 14:15 “The Comfort of Uncomfortable Design. Kaunas City Museum”, Rokas Kilčiauskas, Architect at Processoffice, VDA professor at the department of Interior Design, Vilnius faculty
14:30 – 15:30 Panel Discussion “Beyond Accessibility: What Does Inclusion Really Mean?” (moderated by Audronė Drungilaitė-Čepienė)
Panel members: Alessia Planeta (Cerpa, Italy), Francesco Rodighiero (Design for All) + other members.
The Erasmus+ cooperation project is built around a consortium of European partners—including NABA (Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti, Milan), Art Academy of Latvia, Vilnius Academy of Arts, CERPA Italia Onlus, Design For All Italia, and BAM! Strategie Culturali.
Register to attend the event (registration deadline - 20th March, 2026)
Pictures taken by Rusnė Šimulynaitė
