Dr. Tom Bieling, holds the professorship for design theory and design research at Zentrum für Designforschung (HAW Hamburg), teaches Designwissenschaft at HAWK Hildesheim, and design theory / design history in Cairo and Berlin.
Visiting professorships at the University of Trento and the German University in Cairo, and Lectureships worldwide. In his research, he focuses on the social and political dimensions of design, for instance in relation to age, poverty, disability, gender, intercultural dialogue or protest culture. Head of Social Design at Design Research Lab / Berlin University of the Arts (2010 – 2019), previously at T-Labs / TU Berlin (2007 – 2010).
Chief Editor at Designforschung.org since 2008, co-editor of the book series Design Meanings (Mimesis), and the BIRD series (Birkhäuser/DeGruyter) as part of the Board of International Research in Design, and founding member of the Design Research Network.
He is a regular member of juries, research and expert committees, including the Scientific Advisory Board of the German Institute for Human, Ethics and Science, and author of numerous publications.
He was elected Young Innovator of the Year by the Falling Walls consortium. His work, which has received several awards, is exhibited worldwide. Recent books: “Design (&) Activism” (Mimesis, 2019), “Gender (&) Design” (Mimesis, 2020) and “Inklusion als Entwurf” (Birkhäuser, 2019)