Personal information
Verified email addresses
Verified email domains
Biography
Dr. Emmanouil is an interdisciplinary design educator and researcher specializing in visual communication design / graphic design history, theory, methodology, design education, participatory design, and socially responsible design. With over 24 years of experience across three continents and six cities, she holds a PhD and an MA in the History of Design from the Royal College of Art (RCA, UK), in addition to a BA(Hons) in Graphic Design (UK) with an Upper Second (2.1). Her academic achievements have been supported by several prestigious scholarships, including those from the Onassis Foundation, the Doxiadis Foundation, and the RCA. Furthermore, Dr. Emmanouil's academic journey is complemented by studies in the performing arts (classical ballet and contemporary dance) (Greece) and postgraduate studies in special education at Leiden University (The Netherlands), which have collectively shaped her comprehensive and inclusive approach to design, education, and social inclusion.
In her leadership and mentorship roles, she co-founded the design.nexus research group at Ghent University, Belgium, where she led the Design Education pillar. She was the Project Manager of the 1million Erasmus+ KA2 ‘T-CREPE’ project (2019-2023). During her tenure at Ghent University (2017–2023), she supervised Master's and Doctoral students and worked at the intersection of design history, education, and practice. She has held the Program Coordinator role for the MDes in Design Studies at the Graduate School, Izmir University of Economics (Turkey).
Dr. Emmanouil has (co-)authored over 50 publications in leading academic journals such as Design Issues, International Journal of Arts and Design Education, Journal of Futures Studies, and CoDesign, and has been an invited reviewer for several scholarly journals. Her work has been presented at international conferences since 2005. Dr. Emmanouil is recognized for her contributions to the history of graphic design, with a particular focus on Greek graphic design. Her doctoral thesis, Graphic Design and Modernisation in Greece, 1945–1970 (2012), remains a key reference in the field, alongside her publications on design history in Greece and its intersections with modernization, cultural identity, and global design influences.
Alongside her academic roles, as a freelance graphic designer, she has contributed to the development of accessible design programs for visually impaired individuals in museums across Greece (Benaki Museum, the UK (National Centre for Tactile Diagrams – now part of RNIB), and the US (Museum of Fine Arts, MA). Her research continues to advance the conversation around the role of design in addressing societal needs, particularly in education and accessibility.
Dr. Emmanouil is currently serving as Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Arts & Creative Industries at Deree - ACG (The American College of Greece) while previously, held the role of the Head of the Graphic Design Department. Dr. Emmanouil is particularly interested in developing innovative learning methodologies that empower future designers and creative creators to engage with societal challenges and embrace ethical, user-centered practices.