Design and Democracy: Communication Design as strategic tool to increase participation in democratic process

OCTOBER 21ST 2025 > 2.30 PM I LAGOA HENRIQUES AUDITORIUM

Design and Democracy: Communication Design as strategic tool to increase participation in democratic process

Lecture in english.

Admission is free until the auditorium reaches full capacity.

This lecture explores how design can strengthen democratic values and participation. Drawing from exhibitions that illustrate the meaning of democracy in Latvia’s history and our impresions after a visit to Lisbon’s museum of Resistance and Freedom we will explore how design can tell stories of freedom, civic courage, and responsibility.

The lecture also presents design projects developed by students of the Art Academy of Latvia, focusing on how to encourage young people to take part in elections and how thoughtful design can make the voting process more accessible, understandable, and engaging.

Through real examples we would like to emphasise how political messaging and the tone of election communication can either motivate or discourage participation — highlighting design as a powerful democratic tool that helps people see, feel, and believe in their ability to shape society.

Ilze Dobele is a Latvian journalist, television and radio presenter, and lecturer in communication and public speaking. She is one of Latvia’s most recognized news anchors, with more than twenty-five years of experience in national broadcasting. Alongside her journalism work, she hosts the radio program Why Design?, exploring how design shapes culture and public understanding.
At the Art Academy of Latvia, Ilze teaches communication and presentation skills and has worked with students on the concept for Salone Satellite 2022, highlighting global sustainability in design. She has collaborated with the award-winning design studio H2E on several major exhibitions, including projects dedicated to Latvia’s first president, the centenary of the Cabinet of Ministers. She was curator organizing Japanese designers’ poster exhibition for peace in 2024, commemorating the victims of nuclear warfare.
Ilze combines her background in media, design, and art to promote meaningful dialogue between creative expression and social responsibility.
Ilze holds a Master’s degree in Communication Science from the University of Latvia and has completed further professional training in journalism in Sweden and in television presentation with mentors from University of Tennessee, USA and the Sky News.

Ingūna Elere is a Latvian designer, educator, and co-founder of the design studio H2E, where she serves as Creative Lead. She is also a professor at the Art Academy of Latvia and a co-founder of the SEGD Riga Chapter, contributing to the development of design discourse both locally and internationally.
Ingūna believes that design is a constantly evolving discipline and that everyone is entitled to good design. She emphasizes that the interaction between space and graphics shapes user experiences in meaningful ways. Interdisciplinary collaboration is a core principle in her work at H2E, where projects span from environmental graphics and exhibition design to service and spatial experiences.
Her professional practice is grounded in classical art education and enriched by more than twenty years of experience in the design field. Ingūna has led numerous projects that integrate design thinking with social, cultural, and experiential impact, shaping how users engage with environments over time.
Ingūna holds a degree in Fine Arts from Art Academy of Latvia and has completed further professional development in design theory and practice. Her work combines creativity, research, and strategic thinking to advance design as a tool for meaningful communication and improved experiences.
Ingūna has received multiple national and international awards for her design work, including Red Dot Design Award, SEGD Award, German Design Award, and iF Design Award, highlighting her contributions to environmental, graphic, and experiential design.

Holgers Elers is a Latvian designer, educator, and co-founder of the design studio H2E, where he serves as Creative Lead. He is also a professor at the Art Academy of Latvia. Holgers believes that the environment in which we live, the things and services that we use must be of high quality; they have to be functional and understandable. High-quality environmental, graphic, and service design provides experiences that affect every user in the long term. Design, as an interdisciplinary tool, delivers a certain message in a specific space and time.
Holgers’ professional practice encompasses environmental, graphic, multimedia, exhibition, and experiential design. His works include several notable environmental objects, such as the iconic Riga 800 and the series Philosophy in the City. At the Art Academy of Latvia, Holgers teaches creative and critical thinking.
Holgers holds a Master of Arts and has received several prestigious international awards for completed works, including the Red Dot Design Award, SEGD Award, German Design Award, and iF Design Award. In 2017, he received the Excellence Award in Culture from the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia