Background and activities

I am Associate Professor in transition design and Deputy Head of Department for Research at the Department of Design, with a PhD (2013) in design for sustainability. 

My research addresses relations between design, everyday practices, and societal change, and the role of design in sustainability transitions and sociotechnical and socioecological transformation. Over the last years, consumption (e.g., energy and materials use, circular economy), urban development and urban natures have been main interests, focusing on topics such as inclusion, cocreation and experimental exploration of human-nature relations, possible futures, and alternative ways of living and working.

I have worked on these topics in interdisciplinary EU and RCN projects, in cross-sector collaborations, in supervision of PhD and master’s projects, and in teaching. I currently also coordinate the department’s Design for Sustainability group and lead the PhD programme in Design (PHDESIG).

Research interests 

  • Design for sustainability transitions, social practice theory, more-than-human theories and approaches, participatory design, consumption, urban development, urban natures

Ongoing projects

Past projects

Teaching and supervision

  • TPD4210 Sustainability Transitions (new course 2022, course coordinator) 
  • TPD4500 Design 9, Specialisation Project (course coordinator) 
  • TPD4852 Experts in Teamwork Village Designing in Urban Natures (2021) 
  • Supervision: TPD4500 Design 9, TPD4505 Design Theory and TPD4900 Industrial Design Engineering, Master's Thesis
  • PhD supervisor

Scientific, academic and artistic work

Displaying a selection of activities. See all publications in the database

Journal publications

Part of book/report

  • Pettersen, Ida Nilstad; Geirbo, Hanne Cecilie; Johnsrud, Hanne. (2018) The tree as method: co-creating with urban ecosystems. Proceedings of the 15th Participatory Design Conference: Short Papers, Situated Actions, Workshops and Tutorial - Volume 2.
  • Boks, Casparus Burghardus; Lilley, Debra; Pettersen, Ida Nilstad. (2017) The Future of Design for Sustainable Behaviour, Revisited. Sustainability Through Innovation in Product Life Cycle Design.
  • Camacho-Otero, Juana; Pettersen, Ida Nilstad; Boks, Casper. (2017) Consumer and user acceptance in the circular economy: what are researchers missing?. PLATE: Product Lifetimes And The Environment.
  • Pettersen, Ida Nilstad. (2017) Design for endring av praksis. Velferdsteknologi i praksis.
  • Gatherer, Derek; Kuijer, Lenneke; Pettersen, Ida Nilstad. (2016) "By Their [Data] You Will Know Them": Historical Reflections on Capturing Patterns in Everyday Life. Everyday Futures.
  • Wade, Faye; Pettersen, Ida Nilstad. (2016) What ideas of users and their lifestyles exist amongst actors involved in the design and delivery of heating technologies?. Daily life, digital technologies and energy demand – A working paper collection.
  • Verhulst, Elli; Pettersen, Ida Nilstad. (2015) Practice-oriented research into energy management and use in non-residential buildings: the reliability gap framework. eceee Summer Study proceedings. eceee 2015 Summer Study First fuel now.
  • Jensen, Charlotte Louise; Wade, Faye; Pettersen, Ida Nilstad; Kuijer, Lenneke. (2014) How do material objects transcend the boundaries between professional and domestic practices?. Practices, the Built Environment and Sustainability – A Thinking Note Collection.
  • Pettersen, Ida Nilstad. (2014) Service Innovation and Welfare Technology for Sustainable Home Medication: Insights from Social Practice Theory. Proceedings of DRS 2014: Design's big debates. Design Research Society Biennal international conference 16-19 June 2014.

Report/dissertation

  • Wensaas, Kristina ebbing; Pettersen, Ida Nilstad; Smørdal, Ole. (2020) The case study “Framtidsbilder Trondheim sentrum 2050”. Universitetet i Oslo. 2020.
  • Pettersen, Ida Nilstad. (2013) Changing Practices: The Role of Design in Supporting the Sustainability of Everyday Life. 2013. ISBN 978-82-471-4361-2.