Dr. Leandro Tonetto is a design researcher with 20 years of experience in human-centered design, specializing in subjective well-being and health. He has a background in social, personality, and cognitive psychology (PUCRS, Brazil) and healthcare leadership (Harvard Medical School). Before joining Georgia Tech in 2023, he worked on design studies across over 85 consultancy projects in 14 countries, focusing on enhancing human experience through design.
Positions
He is an Associate Professor in the School of Industrial Design at Georgia Tech. Dr. Tonetto has also been an active member of the Design Research Society (DRS; UK), where he has served as a board member and is currently the convenor of the Special Interest Group in Design for Well-being, Happiness, and Health (SIGWELL).
Research
Despite his particular interest in design for subjective well-being in pediatric care, Dr. Tonetto’s research spans various topics related to health and well-being, such as exploring patients’ experiences in hospital isolation and assessing therapeutic spaces for people living with Mild Cognitive Impairment. He has also collaborated with scholars globally on studies that have shaped digital technologies and healthcare resilience research. Furthermore, he has advanced design knowledge in health systems, specifically in teaching hospitals, where he co-designed patient-centered services with stakeholders to improve experiences in areas such as oncology, neurology, and thoracic surgery. His studies have been recognized through several international grants.
Publications
Dr. Tonetto has contributed over 100 scholarly publications to books, conferences, and leading journals, including Applied Ergonomics, The Design Journal, Journal of Design Research, International Journal of Production Research, Technovation, and Technological Forecasting and Social Change. He is also an ad-hoc reviewer for international funding agencies and academic journals.