Katja Christina Tschimmel

Katja Tschimmel, German by birth and Portuguese by choice, is consultant and executive trainer, researcher and lecturer, coach and conference speaker. She is working in both, the business world (Mindshake) and the academic (Porto University and Porto Business School). Having a Ph.D in Design and a Masters in Applied Creativity, Katja researches, teaches and publishes in the fields of Creativity, Design Thinking and Innovation for more than 25 years.

For 9 years she was Guest Professor at Laurea-University of Applied Science in Helsinki, and for 15 years she was Professor at the College of Arts and Design in Matosinhos (ESAD), where she coordinated the European research project D-Think and the first Post-Graduation Course in Design Thinking in Portugal. By invitation she teaches in several other educational institutions in Portugal (FBAUP/Porto, TecMinho/Guimarães, etc.) and abroad (Elisava/Barcelona, Fatih University/Istanbul, BHSAD/Moscow, Humboldt University/Berlin, Széchenyi István University/Hungary, etc.). Katja supervises many Masters and Ph.D dissertations and participates in numerous academic juries. She is a member of several international scientific committees for peer reviews. She publishes regularly in the area of creativity and design, having recently published the books “Creativity and Innovation Affairs” (2022), “CriAtivaMente/TheCreativeMind/CreA(c)tivaMente” (2020) and “The Creativity Virus” (2019). Katja is the author of the Evolution 6^2 Design Thinking model, which she applies in training and coaching of innovation teams in several kind of organisations. Clients of her company Mindshake are, between others: BA Glass, Cereális, dst group, Farfetch, Ikea, Lipor, Natixis Portugal, NOS, Porto Digital, Roche, Sogrape, SonaeMC, etc. In the consultancy field, she specialized in supporting the design of innovation frameworks and their organisational implementation. Applying ethnographic research, strategic thinking and creative problem solving, Katja also supports organizations in projects of change management. Since January 2023 Katja is the Portuguese Ambassador of the World Creativity and Innovation Week/Day (https://wciw.org/).

Current positions

  • Owner Mindshake
  • Guest lecturer Porto Business School
  • Guest lecturer University of Porto

PhD Details

Research Groups

Publications

Books
  • Tschimmel, K. (Coord.) (2024). Creativity for a Sustainable Future. Porto: Edição Mindshake. ISBN 978-989-35487-1-4.
  • Tschimmel, K. (2009). El Proceso Creativo desde la Perspectiva de la Creatividad como una Capacidad Sistémica. Col. Crearmundos. Barcelona: Editoral Octaedro. ISBN 978-84-9921-051-3.
  • Sátiro, A., Tschimmel, K. (2020). CriAtivaMente / The Creative MInd / CreA(c)tivaMente. Porto: Edição Mindshake. ISBN 978-989-33-0517-1.
  • Tschimmel, K. (Coord.) (2022). Creativity and Innovation Affairs. Porto: Edição Mindshake. ISBN 978-989-33-3024-1.
  • Tschimmel, K. (2011). Processos Criativos. A emergência de ideias na perspetica sistémica da criatividade. Matosinhos: Edições ESAD. ISBN 978-972-98303-6-5.
  • Tschimmel, K. (Coord.) (2019). The Creativity Virus – A Book about and for Creative Thinking. Porto: Edição Mindshake. ISBN 978-989-20-9409-0.
Book chapters
  • Rodrigo J., Tschimmel, K. (2009). Dos temas, un diálogo. Sistemas Creativos: ¿Qué hace que tengamos más o menos ideas? La pasión por la creación de nuevos mundos visuales y el placer de mirarlos. In Sátiro, A. (Coord.). Pasión por Crear_Placer de Admirar_Necesidad de Transformar. La Coruña: Ed. Macuf. pp. 30-46. ISBN 978-84-613-0412-7.
  • Tschimmel, K. (2009). A procura contínua da surpresa. O universo criativo de Paolo Deganello. In Milano, M. (Coord.). Paolo Deganello. As razões do meu projecto radical. Matosinhos: Ed. Esad & Câmara Municipal de Matosinhos. 559-570. ISBN 978-972-98303-4-1.
  • Tschimmel, K., Santos, J. (2019). How Designers Can Contribute to Education. In Bagnara S., Tartaglia R., Albolino S., Alexander T., Fujita Y. (Eds). Proceedings of the 20th Congress of the International Ergonomics Association (IEA 2018). IEA 2018. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, Vol 824. Springer, Cham, pp. 2098-2107. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-96071-5_219.
  • Tschimmel, K., Santos, J. (2019). Design Thinking Applied in Higher Education. D-Think, a European Project for Innovating Educational Systems (Chapter 22). In Carmo, Mafalda (Ed.). Education Applications & Developments IV. Advances in Education and Educational Trends Series. Lisbon: Science Press. pp. 236-245.
  • Mendes F., Duarte C.A.M., Tschimmel K. (2020). Design Education. Human Factors at the Core of a Coworking Self-determined New Design Learning Approach. In Rebelo F., Soares M. (Eds.). Advances in Ergonomics in Design. AHFE 2020. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, Vol 1203. Springer, Cham, pp. 350-355. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-51038-1_48. Print ISBN 978-3-030-51037-4. Online ISBN 978-3-030-51038-1.
  • Alves dos Santos, J., Moreira, J., Tschimmel, K. (2023). Design Thinking Workshops for Social Workers. In Goldschmidt, G. & Tarazi, E. (Ed.). Expanding the Frontiers of Design: Critical Perspectives. Taylors & Francis.
  • Clemente, V., Reis, M., Ezingmüller, C., Tschimmel, K., & Pombo, F. (2023). Design Thinking Meets Academic Research: Science Communication for Design Communities Using Analogies and Illustrations. In: Martins, N., Brandão, D. (Eds.) Advances in Design and Digital Communication IV. DIGICOM 2023. Springer Series in Design and Innovation, Vol 35. (pp. 569-583). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-47281-7_47. Link
  • Clemente, V., Tschimmel, K., & Pombo, F. (2023). PhD Research for “Trans-action”: The Role of Research Questions. In Developments in Design Research and Practice II: Best Papers from the 11th Senses and Sensibility 2021: Designing Next Genera (c) tions (pp. 110-123). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland.
  • Tschimmel K. (2022). Creativity, Design and Design Thinking—A Human-Centred ménage à trois for Innovation. In: Raposo D., Neves J., Silva J. (eds.). Perspectives on Design II. Springer Series in Design and Innovation, vol 16. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-79879-6_1 Link
  • Clemente, V., Tschimmel, K., Pombo, F. (2021) Mapping the Territories Around Design Research: A Four-Layer Analysis. In Fátima Pombo (org.) OIKOS – Design for Ecosystemic Spaces, Aveiro: Universidade de Aveiro, (pp 119-130), ISBN978-972-789-695-0
  • Clemente, V., Tschimmel, K., Pombo, F. (2020). Mapping the territories around Design Research, Education and Practice. A four-layer analysis: Processes, Philosophy, People and Products. In Almendra, R. & Ferreira, J. (Eds). Research & Education in Design: People & Processes & Products, & Philosophy. London: CRC Press. pp. 147-156. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003046103. ISBN 978-0-367-49296-0.
See all 11 book chapters
International journals
  • Clemente, V., Tschimmel, K. (2023). Design Methodology on Fire! Open exchange of e-mails on Design Methodology vs Design Thinking in Design Education. In Jones, D., Borekci, N., Clemente, V., Corazzo, J., Lotz, N., Liv Merete Nielsen, L. M., & Noel, L.-A. (Eds.), The 7th International Conference for Design Education Researchers, 29 November – 1 December 2023, London, United Kingdom. https://doi.org/10.21606/drslxd.2024.099. Link
  • Clemente, V., Tschimmel, K., & Pombo, F. (2022). Matching Research Questions with a Research Methodology: Proposal for a Didactic Resource. The International Journal of Design Education, 16(1), 155.
  • Clemente, V, Tschimmel, K., Vieira, R. (2017). Why a Logbook? A backpack journey as a metaphor for product design education. The Design Journal, 20 (sup1): S1530-S1542.
  • Clemente, V., Tschimmel, K, Pombo, F. (2017). A Future Scenario for a Methodological Approach applied to PhD Design Research: From Empirical Study to Analytical Model. The Design Journal, 20 (sup1): S792-S802.
National journals
  • Clemente, V, Tschimmel, K., Vieira, R, M. (2016) Pensamento criativo e crítico no Desenvolvimento de Produto: uma intervenção didática baseada no Design Thinking. Revista Lusófona de Educação, 32: 75-92.
International conferences
  • Alves dos Santos, J., Moreira, J., & Tschimmel, K. (2022). Design Thinking Workshops for Social Workers. In Goldschmidt, G. & Tarazi, E. (Ed.). Expanding the frontiers of design: A blessing or a curse? Proceedings. (pp. 176-193). DesignTech, Faculty of Architecture & Town Planning Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa. ISBN 978-965-599-948-8.
  • Clemente V., Tschimmel K., Pombo, F. (2022). PhD Research for “trans-action”: The Role of Research Questions,11th International Conference Senses & Sensibility 2021 09 | 11 Dec 2021 – Bari, Italy
  • Clemente, V., Tschimmel, K., Pombo, F. (2019). Mapping the territories around Design Research: a four-layer analysis. In International Research & Education in Design Conference 2019 — REDES2019, 14 & 15 November 2019, Lisbon School of Architecture of the University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
  • Tschimmel, K., Santos, J. (2018). Design Thinking applied in Higher Education. D-Think, a European Project for Innovating Educational Systems. In Carmo, M. (Ed.). Education and New Developments 2018 – Proceedings of the International Conference on Education and New Developments (END 2018), organised by the World Institute for Advanced Research and Science (WIARS). Published by inScience Press. pp. 209 – 213.
  • Tschimmel, K., Santos, J. (2018). Design Thinking applied to the Redesign of Business Education. In Proceedings of the XXIX ISPIM Innovation Conference, The Name of the Game, 17 – 20 June 2018, Stockholm.
  • Clemente, V., Vieira, R., & Tschimmel, K. (2016). A learning toolkit to promote creative and critical thinking in product design and development through Design Thinking. In Engineering Education (CISPEE), 2016 2nd International Conference of the Portuguese Society for (pp. 1-6). IEEE.
  • Clemente, V, Vieira, R, M., Tschimmel, K. (2015). Desenvolvimento do pensamento criativo e crítico em estudantes de Tecnologia e Design de Produto: o percurso investigativo à luz do Design Thinking. In Dominguez, Caroline et. al. (Eds.) Pensamento Crítico na Educação: Desafios Atuais (pp.17-23), UTAD Vila Real, Portugal.
  • Clemente, V., Vieira, R., & Tschimmel, K. (2018). A metaphoric thinking styles taxonomy to promote students’ metacognitive self-reflection in Design learning. In O. Moret (Ed.), Back to the Future The Future in the Past. ICDHS 10th+1 Barcelona 2018 Conference Proceedings Book. (pp. 679-683)
  • Clemente. V., Tschimmel, K. & Pombo, F.(2018). Methodologies in Doctoral Research in Design: the Role of Research Paradigms. In ICDHS 10th+1 Conference Back to the Future: starting again understanding our own past and heritage Barcelona, 29-31 November, 2018.
Other publications
  • Clemente, V. , Tschimmel, K. (2022). Divergent Thinking versus Lateral Thinking. In Tschimmel, K., Klimczuk, A., Santos, D., Marzavan, D., Loyens, D., Pombo, F., … & Borgers, W. (2022). Creativity and Innovation Affairs: Are They or Are They Not…?.
  • Tschimmel, K., Santos, J. Loyens, D., Jacinto, A. Monteiro, R., Valença, M. (2015). Research Report D-Think. Design Thinking Applied to Education and Training. Erasmus+, KA2 Strategic Partnership. Matosinhos: Ed. ESAD. ISBN 978-989-8829-03-0. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.1049.0643 Link
  • Tschimmel, K., Loyens, D., Soares, J., Oraviita, T., Jacinto, A., Barroca, A., Marinova, B., Santos, J., Carenzo, M., Manzini, S. (2017). D-Think Toolkit. Design Thinking Applied to Education and Training. Erasmus+, KA2 Strategic Partnership. Matosinhos: Ed. ESAD. Link

Scientific, artistic and cultural production

Other scientific activity spreading actions
  • Regular consultancy and coaching sessions in the areas of Organizational Creativity across various innovation projects at Natixis Portugal.
  • Member of the Advisory Board, which was created to complement local collective intelligence in the areas of retail, cultural and creative industries, economics, innovation, cultural management, and law. Bombarda -Quarteirão Criativo – Associação para o Desenvolvimento Local, Portugal