The School continues to build on the growing international prestige achieved by its researchers in the discipline’s leading research forums.
Founded in the United Kingdom in 1966, the Design Research Society (DRS) is the oldest scientific society dedicated to design research and one of the most prestigious in the world. It brings together researchers from a variety of disciplines with the aim of promoting the development of design theory, methods, and practices, as well as strengthening the relationship between research, education, and professional practice.
As part of the DRS2026 Biennial Conference, Paulina Contreras, Director of Research at the School of Design, who served on the International Advisory Council (IAC) for four years, was elected to the Executive Board (EB), becoming the first representative from the Universidad del Desarrollo and from Ibero-America to serve on the main governing body of the Design Research Society.
In addition, Úrsula Bravo, editor of the magazine Base Diseño e Innovación, was elected to serve on the International Advisory Council (IAC), ensuring the University’s continued representation on this DRS advisory body..
The Executive Board is the DRS’s principal governing body and is responsible for setting strategic direction and ensuring the organization’s institutional and financial sustainability. Its members serve as directors and trustees of the organization, exercising legal responsibilities regarding its operations and assets. Together with the Executive Director and the Chair of the International Advisory Council, the Executive Board oversees the implementation of the institutional strategy and, through a vote, adopts the key decisions that guide the DRS’s development and international outreach..
For its part, the International Advisory Council brings together researchers from various countries to advise the Executive Board on strategic matters and to contribute to the development of initiatives, working groups, and recommendations that guide the society’s activities.
These appointments recognize the academic achievements of Paulina Contreras and Úrsula Bravo and reflect the growing international standing of the UDD School of Design in the field of design research. They also strengthen the Universidad del Desarrollo’s role in shaping global agendas for design research and expand opportunities for collaboration with institutions and scholars around the world.
The UDD School of Design’s presence in the DRS’s governance has gradually strengthened over the past few years. This relationship began with the election of researcher Catalina Cortés as a member of the IAC. Subsequently, that role was assumed by Paulina Contreras and, starting this year, by Úrsula Bravo, ensuring the University’s continued representation on this advisory body. Contreras’s election as a member of the Executive Board marks a new institutional milestone, as she becomes the first representative of the Universidad del Desarrollo, and of Ibero-America, on the organization’s main governing body.
Members of both theExecutive Board and the International Advisory Council are elected through a voting process among the members of the Design Research Society, reflecting the international community’s confidence in the track record and contributions of those who assume these responsibilities.
