Rūta Valušytė

Professor in Design, Head of KTU Design Centre

Kaunas University of Technology

Kaunas, Lithuania

2 profile visits

Professor, PhD in Design, Circuloop project leader bridging theory and practice, exploring design's role in sustainability, innovation, and inclusive futures.

My organisation

Kaunas University of Technology

University

Kaunas, Lithuania

Design Centre at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) The KTU Design Centre is a hub for academic research, studies, and innovation in the field of design. Its mission is to advance design knowledge and practices that foster sustainable living, contribute to societal well-being, and drive innovation through design services and collaboration with businesses and communities. The Centre focuses on three strategic research and development areas: Design for Circular Economy and New Ways of Living This area rethinks how products, services, and systems are created, developed, and used, aiming to align human activity with the regenerative principles of natural ecosystems. By integrating approaches such as biomimicry, the Centre promotes solutions that support long-term ecological balance and minimize waste, fostering nearly zero-waste systems. Smart Fashion Exploring the intersection of design, technology, and fashion, this area focuses on integrating intelligent technologies into garments and accessories to enhance their function, aesthetics, and user interaction. Smart fashion at KTU goes beyond trends—it envisions clothing that responds to environmental or personal data, improving sustainability and user experience. Design for Transitions This approach supports systemic change towards more sustainable and equitable futures. It addresses complex societal challenges such as climate change, social inequality, and digital transformation by integrating systems thinking, future studies, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Design for transitions enables the co-creation of new models for living, working, and engaging with our environment. Through these pillars, the Design Centre actively contributes to shaping design as a strategic tool for innovation, sustainability, and societal transformation.

About me

Rūta Valušytė is a professor and head of the Design Centre at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), and a board member of the Lithuanian Design Council at the Ministry of Culture in Lithuania (2019–2024). She is a researcher in the field of design and holds a Ph.D. in Design from the Politecnico di Milano.

With a professional design background spanning over 15 years, Rūta has contributed to various design fields in practice, including Retail, Interior Design, Branding, and Strategic Design. She also brings experience in Innovation Management and has held academic roles in design for over a decade.

Her research explores the intersection of design with sustainable development and the circular economy, the strategic role of Design and Design Culture on socio-economic and technological transitions. She is the leader of Circuloop (https://circuloop.lt/app/#/),,) a project that bridges theory and practice in circular design. At KTU, she plays an active role in several academic committees, contributing to curriculum development and design research. In 2025, she introduced a new interdisciplinary master’s degree study program, Design for a Sustainable Future, which aims to develop integrated competences in design and sustainability, while engaging master’s students in research projects addressing real-world sustainability challenges.

Since 2014, Rūta has been actively involved in a variety of research projects, demonstrating her commitment to advancing the design field. Over the past 10 years, she has served as an expert for the European Commission (REA) and several national funding agencies. She contributes to design and CCIs policies in Lithuania (member of the Lithuanian Design Council 2019–2024, board member of the Cultural Creative Association 2019–2022) and participates in national workgroups developing strategies for creative and inclusive societies.

As a co-founder of the DesignLibrary Kaunas project, Rūta has significantly contributed to strengthening the local design ecosystem. She also played a key role in promoting Kaunas as the European Capital of Culture 2022 and in establishing Kaunas as a city of design within the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. Her career reflects a profound commitment to leveraging design as a strategic and transformative asset for a better future.

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Skills

Design
Design research
Circular Design
Design for CE
design thinking
Design Culture
Design for Transitions
Design for Sustainable Development
Design for Futures

Interests

Circular Design
Design for New Business Models
Design strategies for CE
Design for New Materials
New Materiality
Hybrid Materials
systems oriented design
systemic design
PSSD