Lorenzo Imbesi
Full Professor in Design,
Sapienza University of Rome.
President 2022-2025, Cumulus Association
New Cumulus Board
Cumulus General Assembly has elected the new 2022-2025 President, Lorenzo Imbesi, as well as the Cumulus Executive Board VIII
Design is about building and creating a better world for everyone. War is about destroying.
Design Culture(S) values people and communities after any border, since knowledge belongs to humanity and it is the light for justice and freedom. In order to promote peace and justice, Design Culture(S) is advocating the international values of friendship, solidarity, love and beauty. The future is about those who can dream and design a better world.
The aim of the Cumulus Ph.D. Network is to create a platform and activities where Ph.D. coordinators, faculty, and student community from the network can come together to collaborate and exchange learning.
ReVeDA stands for “Research Vectors through Design and Arts,” and started as a Working group in 2014 born with the intent to develop both a quantitative and qualitative map through the Cumulus Community about the topic of Research in Arts and Design. The primary aim of ReVeDa is to offer an open space for discussion on research in Design and the Arts, while showcasing experiences developed within the Cumulus Community.
The ReVeDA Book, a planned Cumulus Think Tank publication, collects a report of all the activities, methodologies, and instruments used during a Survey to the Cumulus community; it will present infographic maps showing key vectors of research through Design and the Arts.
CUMULUS PRESIDENCY 2025-2028
. Let’s keep building the future together
As President of Cumulus for the past three years, I have had the privilege of witnessing the remarkable growth and transformation of our Association. We have expanded to nearly 400 members across 71 countries, successfully completed our transition to independence, and launched innovative initiatives that serve our global community.
. Who I am
As your President for the past three years, I have dedicated myself to strengthening our community while preserving its core values. My journey with Cumulus spans from early involvement in 2006, through two consecutive terms on the Executive Board, to my current role as President.
I am a Full Professor of Design at Sapienza University of Rome, where I have been directing Sapienza Design Research, coordinating interdisciplinary projects across eleven departments. I serve as President of the Italian Society of Design (SID) and chair the joint PhD Program in Service Design for Public Sector.
Since its foundation, I have chaired the ReVeDA Working Group on design research. My experiences across different cultural contexts, from Canada to Europe, have shaped my understanding of the importance of diverse perspectives in design education and research.
. Design is plural. Cumulus is plural
Throughout my presidency, we have demonstrated that design education can be a powerful force for connection, even in challenging times. From hosting conferences across continents to establishing programs in underserved regions, we have shown our commitment to genuine inclusivity and dialogue.
We are living in a world of complexity and uncertainty – everything we were sure of yesterday can change suddenly. The success of our association lies in our ability to respect emerging differences and foster values of plurality, global engagement and open dialogue, generating a welcoming friendly environment for innovation and joyful experiences.
. What we have achieved
During my first term, we have achieved significant milestones:
- successfully completed our transition to an independent association
- expanded our membership to nearly 400 institutions across 71 countries
- launched the Cumulus PhD Network and Regional Seminars
- stablished the Cumulus Talent Camp program
- initiated the participatory process to write the Cumulus Design Declaration
- created the Cumulus Passport as a symbol of our united community
- returned to vibrant in-person gatherings while maintaining digital inclusivity
- reinforced Working Groups and student engagement initiatives
. 35 years of Cumulus heritage to celebrate
As we mark our 35th anniversary, we honor the visionaries who built this association while embracing the challenges of the future. Cumulus was born with a dream: to create a space where knowledge, experiences, and cultures could be shared among students, researchers, and educators. This dream has been realized over 35 years of growth and collaboration.
Yet today’s geopolitical challenges demand our creativity to defend and expand this shared space of knowledge, bringing together those who risk isolation in a world where borders are hardening.
. Our vision for 2025-2028
Looking ahead, we will focus on:
- implementing an equity-based financial model to ensure inclusive participation
- expanding regional initiatives and capacity-building programs
- supporting Working Groups and knowledge-sharing platforms
- establishing a comprehensive internal sustainability policy
- enhancing our digital infrastructure while preserving personal connections
- reinforcing new initiatives that address global challenges through design
- fostering peace and understanding through design education
Together, we are building an association that serves all its members while contributing to the broader mission of creating a more sustainable, just, and beautiful world through design. This is our shared journey. With your support, I look forward to continuing to serve as your President for 2025-2028
I will be pleased to serve proactively our community with enthusiasm and positivity, but moreover with the help and the support of the members of Cumulus, while listening and acting on their suggestions and ideas.
I take this chance to thank Cumulus for giving me an incredible opportunity for knowledge sharing and to live together exciting experiences, discovering new places and friends around the world. I believe all the work done so far is significant and the outcomes will stay as important bricks to build on.
ENDORSEMENTS
I would like to thank the many Cumulus members from any part of the world, and also some eminent leaders from our sister associations, who sent me an enthusiastic endorsement both with a letter and a video.
“Cumulus was founded on the ideals of democracy, respecting diversity and to love of creativity. We have understood our global responsibility to use the power of design to make fundamental improvements to the world to safeguard sustainability. The importance of human centered thinking grows as technology advances”.
Yrjö Sotamaa
Cumulus President Emeritus.
