Hi! I’m Xenia, or Kseniia, or xè

BIO


I’m an interdisciplinary researcher and practitioner working at the intersection of participatory design and more-than-human governance. I’m currently pursuing a PhD at Hasselt University in Belgium, where my research investigates new approaches to ecological democracy through the lens of critical design studies and environmental humanities.

With a background in visual and eco-social design, I’ve mostly worked on sociocultural projects: applying design research to questions of identity and language politics in border regions, co-creating participatory strategies for cultural initiatives, and facilitating public engagement in the reimagination of commons. In parallel, I maintain a strong ongoing interest in the roles of diasporas in academia and beyond.

Let’s stay in touch!

︎︎︎ Email
︎︎︎ LinkedIn
︎︎︎ ORCID
Hi! I’m Xenia, or Kseniia, or Xè

BIO


I’m an interdisciplinary researcher and practitioner working at the intersection of participatory design and more-than-human governance. I’m currently pursuing a PhD at Hasselt University in Belgium, where my research investigates new approaches to ecological democracy through the lens of critical design studies and environmental humanities.

With a background in visual and eco-social design, I’ve mostly worked on sociocultural projects: applying design research to questions of identity and language politics in border regions, co-creating participatory strategies for cultural initiatives, and facilitating public engagement in the reimagination of commons. In parallel, I maintain a strong ongoing interest in the roles of diasporas in academia and beyond.

Let’s stay in touch!

︎︎︎ Email
︎︎︎ LinkedIn
︎︎︎ ORCID

COLOURS, SCRIBBLES AND STICKERS – visual tools for researching discrimination


In this research project, we experimented with generative design methods, inspired by the psychology of colors and the semiotics of shapes, to reveal the often-silenced experiences of discrimination among young apprentices in South Tyrol, Italy.

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2023-24
EURAC Research
/Bolzano-Bozen, IT


LE CICOGNE FANNO IL NIDO SUI TRALICCI –  storytelling of a theatrical lab


In this storytelling and communication project, designed to share the experiences of young participants in a year-long theater lab, the public was offered a glimpse behind the scenes, revealing the challenging nature of the acting process.

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2023-24
Teatro Stabile Bolzano, Vintola18
/Bolzano-Bozen, IT


ACERBA DIASPORA – research project


 “Acerba Diaspora – the becoming identity of new generations” is a self-initiated research project developed in Bozen-Bolzano, a city in Italy filled with cultural tensions. By working with new generations, children of people with migration backgrounds, I was discovering the fluid identity of today’s youth and its potential in overcoming the local ethnolinguistic separation.

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2022-23
Free University of Bozen-Bolzano
/Bolzano-Bozen, IT


SAN LORENZO DORSINO - IL BORGO VIVO – participatory strategic development


San Lorenzo Dorsino is a rural village in Trentino that wants to focus on community values in a period of intense tourist growth. Our team proposed a participatory territorial exploration approach that helped identify the collective future desires of local residents.

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2023
Lungomare Cooperative
/Bolzano-Bozen, IT


NEW EUROPEAN BAUHAUS OF THE MOUNTAINS – communication project


 “NEB of the Mountains” is a South Tyrolean initiative that promotes sustainable development of the mountain area and gathers persons from the most diverse fields to work on societal challenges of our time.

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2022
Free University of Bozen-Bolzano
/Bolzano-Bozen, IT



DOLOMÌA – platform for migrant associations


“Dolomìa” is an interactive and digital platform for migrant associations aimed at increasing the degree of participation in the decision-making processes of people of foreign origins and contributing to the promotion of a culture of recognition and interest in the efforts of migrant associations, giving greater visibility to their activities.

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2022
Free University of Bozen-Bolzano
/Bolzano-Bozen, IT



YOURB – civic education labs


“Yourb – urban innovators” is a project that aimed at raising teenagers’ awareness to the issues of active citizenship by supporting them and making them protagonists in the creation of a social design format dedicated to the needs of the local community.

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2019-21
Print Club Torino
/Turin, IT



POSTO GIUSTO PER – tactical urbanism project


“Posto Giusto Per” was born from the collaboration between Graphic Days and the Municipality of Settimo Torinese, a town in the province of Turin. This public intervention was connected to the recent extension of the pedestrian area of the city, which became an awesome opportunity to experiment with tactical urbanism.

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2020
Print Club Torino
/Settimo Torinese, IT



EYES ON – exhibition series


“Eyes On” is a special project within Graphic Days, aimed at celebrating the visual culture of selected guest countries. Over three years, I organised and curated content for international collaborations with a focus on Romania, the Netherlands, and Ukraine.

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2018-21
Print Club Torino
/Turin, IT


GRAPHIC DAYS – visual design festival


“Graphic Days®” is a cultural project dedicated to visual design. Every year it invites the most relevant artists, professional designers and agencies of the international scene of visual communication in a widespread festival that takes place in Turin, Italy. I worked as a Creative Lead for the Festival since 2018 till 2021, being responsible for content management, program curation and panel moderation, as well as relations with international guests.

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2018-21
Print Club Torino
/Turin, IT



MECCHEGNO – ludic pedagogical product


“Mecchegno” is a modular furnishing system designed by the “Xiloidea” carpentry in the province of Varese. Our team created the visual communication strategy of the product, declined by us in playful furniture with an intention to stimulate the creative engagement of children.

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2018
Politecnico di Milano
/Milan, IT

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© Kseniia (xè) Obukhova 2025