María Fernanda Ramírez is an Interdisciplinary Design and Media PhD student at Northeastern University’s College of Arts, Media and Design (CAMD). She holds a bachelor’s degree in Interactivity and Multimedia from Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador, her home country, and a Master of Science (MSc.) in Digital and Interaction Design with a concentration in AI and Design from Politecnico di Milano.
With extensive experience as a UX and Service Designer for NTTDATA Italy and Spain, she has led design projects for newsrooms, renewable energy, aerospace management, and satellite deployment.
Her PhD research focuses on designing for participatory and transformative processes to achieve sustainable futures. Specifically, she investigates community-level decision-making in the transition from emergency to recovery following natural disasters.
Research/Publications Highlights
Ramirez Cifuentes, M. F., Villamizar, M., Ciliotta Chehade, E., Arnold Mages, M. Using AI to Support the Design of Participatory Budgeting in Boston. 2026 Design [Re]Thinking
Ramirez Cifuentes, M. F., Arnold Mages, M. Toward Sustainable Transitions: A Design Ethnographic Study of Volcanic Risk Perception in Ecuador. 2025 International Association of Societies of Design Research
Ramirez Cifuentes, M. F., Ciliotta Chehade, E., Arnold Mages, & C-Dina, A.
Global Perspectives on Participatory Design and Governance: Latin America’s Participatory Budgeting in Action. 2025 Rethinking Engagement through Technology and Design: New Approaches for Participation
Arnold Mages, M., Ramirez Cifuentes, M. F., Yu, C., Glanz, B., & Zurawski, J. A Systemic Approach to Dyadic Support in Multiple Sclerosis Management. 2025 Relating Systems Thinking and Design.
Ramirez Cifuentes, M. F., Ciliotta Chehade, E., Arnold Mages, M., Jain, A., & C-Dina, A.
Co-Creating Participatory Budgeting Systems: A Multi-Stakeholder Conversation. 2024 Relating Systems Thinking and Design.
Ramirez Cifuentes, M. F. Rethinking Risk: Integrating Local Knowledge for Equitable Responses to Volcanic Eruption. 2024 NEST
C-Dina, A., Ramirez Cifuentes, M. F., Ciliotta Chehade, E., & Arnold Mages, M., Making Room for Joy: Decolonizing Participatory Design Through Shared Practice and Performance. 2025 Relating Systems Thinking and Design.
Departments
Interdisciplinary, Art + Design
Education
- BA, Interactivity and Multimedia
- MSc., Digital and Interaction Design