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Key people at Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design.
The Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design is a postgraduate educational institution and professional consultancy specializing in interaction design, service design, and startup incubation based in Copenhagen, Denmark. The organization operates with a workforce of approximately 53 employees and generates an estimated $4 million in annual revenue across its operational divisions. Its hybrid business model combines tuition revenue from masters-level academic programs and short-term pop-up courses with fees from corporate research and design thinking services. In addition to its primary Danish headquarters, the institution has expanded its physical footprint by establishing international studios in San Jose, Costa Rica, and Bergamo, Italy. The institute provides strategic design and consultancy services to a portfolio of global corporate partners and academic institutions, including Dentsu, Intesa Sanpaolo, and FLAME University. The Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design was founded in 2006 by Simona Maschi.
Key people at Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design.
The Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design (CIID) is a postgraduate school and consultancy specializing in interaction design, emphasizing a life-centred approach to create intuitive products, services, and environments that address societal and environmental challenges aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals.[1][2] It offers a one-year full-time immersive program, pop-up schools worldwide, and consultancy services, bringing together diverse students, faculty, and industry partners to foster innovative, people-focused design solutions.[3][1]
CIID serves aspiring interaction designers, organizations, and communities by empowering them with skills in socio-technological design, solving real-world problems through interdisciplinary collaboration and ethical, regenerative interventions.[1][4] Its growth includes expansions to studios in San Jose, Costa Rica (2020) and Bergamo, Italy (2024), enhancing its global reach and impact in design education.[1][2]
Founded in Denmark in 2006, CIID welcomed its first students in 2007 at studios on the Østerbro campus of Danmarks Designskole in Copenhagen, completing a pilot-year Masters-level program in 2008 with funding from The Enterprise and Construction Authority (EBST), the Danish Ministry of Culture, Novo Nordisk, and the JL Foundation.[2][1] The program was supported by Design School Kolding, marking early traction in interaction design education.[2]
Headed by Simona Maschi, with a board and faculty including experts like Gillian Crampton Smith and Bill Verplank, CIID evolved from a Danish-rooted institution to a global entity, opening studios in Costa Rica in 2020 and Bergamo's historic Monastero di Astino in 2024, while expanding pop-up courses to partners like FLAME University in India.[2][1][3]
CIID rides the trend of human-centered design in socio-technological innovation, where interaction design bridges traditional disciplines with emerging tech to create intuitive, impactful experiences amid rapid digital transformation.[1][2] Its timing aligns with growing demand for ethical, regenerative design addressing UN SDGs, as industries face pressures for sustainable, user-focused solutions in AI, services, and environments.[1]
Market forces like global design education needs and interdisciplinary collaboration favor CIID's expansion, influencing the ecosystem by training practitioners who shape products for major clients and partners, while pop-up models democratize access to cutting-edge skills.[3][4][5] This positions CIID as a key enabler in the shift toward design that prioritizes societal good over pure tech novelty.[1]
CIID's trajectory points to further global studio growth and hybrid programs blending physical pop-ups with digital delivery, capitalizing on demand for life-centred designers in AI ethics, sustainability tech, and regenerative services.[1][2] Trends like interdisciplinary education and SDG-aligned innovation will amplify its influence, potentially expanding consultancy for enterprise clients tackling climate and social challenges.
As an international hub evolving from Danish roots to multi-continental presence, CIID remains poised to empower the next generation of designers driving positive impact in a tech-driven world.[1][3]
