Elena Ianeselli

With a solid background in design research and creative industries, Elena Ianeselli operates at the intersections of sustainable fashion, strategic foresight and education. Trained as a designer, she chose early on to focus on research, exploring innovative methods of creation, production and consumption, and reflecting on the evolution of the fashion system.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Theory and Management of the Arts from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice and a Master of Arts in Fashion Design and Theory from IUAV University of Venice, graduating with honors. Her international education includes studies at Central Saint Martins College, University of the Arts London, Hochschule für Künste Bremen and Free University of Bozen, with specialization in textile production, trend forecasting and sustainable innovation at Polimoda Florence and the PIN University Hub in Prato.

Her professional journey integrates theoretical and practice-based research with industry experience. After early work in the costume department of a prestigious opera house and at a theater research center in Venice, she transitioned into the sportswear sector and later into the Tuscan textile industry, driven by a strong interest in deepening her knowledge of production processes and the structural dynamics of the fashion system. For eight years, she worked within a creative hub for textile innovation, leading fashion projects and consulting for emerging brands, while also developing research in trend forecasting and sustainable production. As a project manager, she has developed and coordinated numerous European-funded projects focused on sustainable fashion, innovation, and education, consistently combining theoretical investigation with experimental practices.

She is currently specializing in Social Foresight under the UNESCO Chair in Anticipatory Systems, applying foresight methodologies as strategic tools for innovation and social transformation. Her current research investigates emerging scenarios for fashion design and the transformation of the designer’s role.

Since 2020, she has been teaching in Italian and international universities.