Dr Artur Grisanti Mausbach

Artur’s holistic design research approach spans vehicle design, mobility, urbanism, and architecture. These fields are connected through a systemic framework for sustainability that encompasses environmental, socio‑ethical, economic, and subjective values.

Artur explores how sustainably designed cars, autonomous vehicles, and shared cars would be developed, perceived and well accepted. His research ranges from aesthetic futures and taxonomies of automotive design to the cultural, technological, and environmental shifts shaping 21st‑century mobility.

Focused on sustainability and the circular economy, he applies a Research Through Design approach, using methods such as design experimentation, design deconstruction, value‑based future forecasting, and sustainable design analysis models.

Artur consistently integrates research, design, and teaching. Active in education and research since 1999, he has taught design and architecture at leading institutions, led courses and design‑prize boards, and frequently speaks at international conferences and in the media.

Artur brings extensive multidisciplinary experience to collaborative projects addressing contemporary mobility challenges. He has led Ecofitting, Choreography of Mobility, Joyful Journey, Prisms – Perspectives on Design for China, and Psychology and Desirability in Automotive Design, as well as research for international OEMs including Ford, SAIC, and MG. He currently leads the Creative Sustainability project at the Hyundai Kia Innovation Laboratory.

In parallel to his research and teaching, Artur has been the principal architect and designer of his own studio, Mausbach Design, since 1997, developing hundreds of projects mainly in Brazil, as well as in Austria, Germany, Portugal and the United Kingdom.

Early in his career he designed the postgraduate building of the University of São Paulo’s Veterinary School (1998), and in 2007 his own house was exhibited at the São Paulo International Architecture Biennale. Over time, his practice expanded from new‑build projects to a strong focus on renovation and retrofit, including the award‑winning restoration of a historic building in Klosterneuburg in 2014.

Alongside his architectural work, Mausbach has provided consulting services to the automotive industry, with a focus on sustainability, aesthetics, and emerging markets. His consultancy includes design analysis, future‑oriented presentations, and strategic insights for mobility‑related organisations.

Active in the wider design community, Mausbach has served on design‑prize juries since 2013 and chaired Brazil’s most prominent design award in 2015. He has contributed to specialised media, writing for Car Design News between 2010 and 2017, collaborating with Argentina’s Movil magazine, and frequently discussing automotive design on national television.

Creative Sustainability. Funded by the IMDC Hyundai Kia Innovation Laboratory (2024-2027)

Women In Automotive Design. Funded by the RCA Research Development Fund (2024).

Design Observatory. Funded by International OEM (2023-2024).

Symbiosis and Metamorphosis: Electrification, Circular Economy and Design. Funded by the RCA Research Development Fund (2021-2022).

European EV Design Trends. Funded by International OEM (2020-2021).

Ecofitting whole-life design upgrading cars to zero emissions. Funded by UKRI EPSRC Cents - Circular Economy Network+ in Transport Systems (2020-2021).

Prisms: Perspectives on Design for China Funded by International OEM (2019).

Psychology and Desirability in Automotive Design. Funded by International OEM (2019).

Joyful Journeys. Funded by the IMDC Hyundai Kia Innovation Laboratory (2018).

Building Award for Architecture Conservation of the City of Klosterneuburg, Austria (2014).

Best Special Session Organizer, EVER Monaco International Conference on Ecological Vehicles and Renewable Energies (2011).

Best Paper in a Special Session, EVER Monaco International Conference on ecological Vehicles and Renewable Energies (2009).

CAPES Doctorate Scholarship 1st Place in Art, Architecture and Design (2006).

Winner of Architecture Design Competition to University of São Paulo Veterinary School Research Building (1998).

Creative Sustainability (202–27)

A Research Through Design project bringing together creative thinking, prototyping, research and rigorous analysis, Creative Sustainability rethinks the car for the 21st century. Moving beyond replacement of materials into a new way of conceiving the car in terms of use, construction and lifecycle. The project provokes a novel automotive design paradigm and business models, and has identified some areas that are unique and offer further development. The project transfers knowledge from the architecture concept of Pace Layering to automotive design. Creative Sustainability involves a team of design researchers, and has parallel components with IM master students, encompassing seminars, workshops and production of design outputs. Developed in close collaboration and funded by Hyundai Kia. Additional academic collaborations were established and are planned for the next stages of the project, including working with researchers from other RCA departments, University Cambridge, and Loughborough University.

Women In Automotive Design (2024)

Funded by the RCA Research Development Fund, the project engaged designers worldwide in rethinking automotive design through a more inclusive lens. Developed around an EDI manifesto and involving a team of women from the RCA, the project has already influenced the field—introducing gender balance within IMDC projects, receiving support from major OEM’s design chiefs, and specialised media.

Design Observatory (2023–24)

Funded by International OEM, explored current trends influencing and defining design preferences in Europe. Investigated brand identity and future design directions in the context of electric vehicles.

Anti-Ephemeral Design - Sustainability and Responsible Mobility Production and Consumption in Latin America (2022–24)

Joint Research seed project with researchers from the University of Sao Paulo and University of Cambridge. Anti-Ephemeral Design explores new consumption paradigms for circular economy, through long-lasting, local and frugal automotive designs.

Conference Papers

Mausbach, A.G., Diels, C., Evans, S., Harrow, D., Safa, F. and Quinlan, D. (2021). “Ecofitting: design directions upgrading cars to zero emissions”. In 2021 Sixteenth International Conference on Ecological Vehicles and Renewable Energies (EVER) Monte-Carlo, Monaco, 2021 (pp. 1-7). IEEE.

DOI: 10.1109/EVER52347.2021.9456656

Mausbach, A.G., Diels, C., Evans, S., Harrow, D., Safa, F. and Quinlan, D. (2021). “A Quadruple Bottom Line of Sustainability Analysis of Ecofitting Design Concept". In 2021 Sixteenth International Conference on Ecological Vehicles and Renewable Energies (EVER) Monte-Carlo, Monaco, 2021 (pp. 1-13). IEEE. DOI:10.1109/EVER52347.2021.9456640

Mausbach, A.G., Safa, F, Harrow, D. and Diels, C. (2020). "Ecofitting Circular Economy: An alternative approach to market, consumption, and design towards zero emissions," 2020 Fifteenth International Conference on Ecological Vehicles and Renewable Energies (EVER), Monte-Carlo, Monaco, 2020, (pp. 1-9).

DOI: 10.1109/EVER48776.2020.9242964.

Mausbach, A.G., Quinlan, D., Johnson S. and Harmer, L., 2019, May. “How to share what we used to own”. In 2019 Fourteenth International Conference on Ecological Vehicles and Renewable Energies (EVER) Monte-Carlo, Monaco, 2019 (pp. 1-9). IEEE.

DOI: 10.1109/EVER.2019.8813565

Research Reports

Mausbach, A.G., Safa, F. and Quinlan, D.(2021). Ecofitting: Whole-life designs upgrading cars to zero emissions. Research Report. CENTS Circular Economy Network in Transport Systems, University of Warwick. Published on: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/wmg/research/materials/smam/cents/activities/projects/ecofitting/

Harrow, D., Gheerawo, R., Boyd Davis, S., Phillips, D., Lockton, D., Mausbach, A.G., Wu, J., Ramster, G., Johnson, S., Meldaikyte, G. and Piliste, P., (2020). Driverless futures: Design for acceptance and adoption in urban environments. Research Report. London, Royal College of Art.

Book Chapters

Mausbach, A.G., Diels, C., Harrow, D., dos Santos, M.C.L. (2023). Plenary: Anti-Ephemeral Design for Responsible Production and Consumption of Mobility. In: Benítez-Andrades, J.A., García-Llamas, P., Taboada, Á., Estévez-Mauriz, L., Baelo, R. (eds) Global Challenges for a Sustainable Society . EURECA-PRO 2022. Springer Proceedings in Earth and Environmental Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-25840-4_1

Feiel, S., Mausbach, A.G., Parra, B.J. (2023). Panel Discussion: Circular Economy. In: Benítez-Andrades, J.A., García-Llamas, P., Taboada, Á., Estévez-Mauriz, L., Baelo, R. (eds) Global Challenges for a Sustainable Society . EURECA-PRO 2022. Springer Proceedings in Earth and Environmental Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-25840-4_4

Diels, C., Stylidis, K., Mausbach, A., Harrow, D. (2022). Shaping Autonomous Vehicles: Towards a Taxonomy of Design Features Instilling a Sense of Safety. In: Stephanidis, C., Antona, M., Ntoa, S. (eds) HCI International 2022 Posters. HCII 2022. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 1583. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-06394-7_24

Harmer L., Cain R., and Mausbach, A. (2020), “Joyful Journeys: putting wellbeing at the centre of future travel”. Chapter in PETERMANS, A. CAIN R., Design For Well-Being. Abingdon: Routledge, 2020.p.76-89.

Mausbach, A.G. (2015) “Inovação e mudança de paradigmas no design automotivo: Tesla e Google”. In: Hélio Morrone Cosentino; Eduardo Zampar Morelli; Francesco Paternò. (Org.). INOVAÇÃO E MERCADO PARA O AUTOMÓVEL DO FUTURO. 1ed.São Paulo: Câmara Ítalo-brasileira de Comércio, Indústria e Agricultura de São Paulo, v. 1, p. 204-208.

Chapters on Exhibition Catalogues

Mausbach, A.G. (2016). “Transporte”. 30º Prêmio Design Museu da Casa Brasileira. São Paulo: Secretaria da Cultura do Governo do Estado de São Paulo.

Mausbach, A.G. (2015). “Introdução ao Prêmio de Design Produto”. 29º Prêmio Design Museu da Casa Brasileira. São Paulo: Secretaria da Cultura do Governo do Estado de São Paulo.

Mausbach, A.G. (2015). “Construção”. 29º Prêmio Design Museu da Casa Brasileira. São Paulo: Secretaria da Cultura do Governo do Estado de São Paulo.

Mausbach, A.G. (2014). “Transporte”. 28º Prêmio Design Museu da Casa Brasileira. São Paulo: Secretaria da Cultura do Governo do Estado de São Paulo.

Master Classes, Presentations and Exhibitions

(2025) Global Cars & Global Aesthetics: Where Are We Heading? - Round table at Round Geely 2025 International Automotive Design Forum. Shanghai: 05/12/2025.

(2023) Anti-Ephemeral: the mythical journey of the automobile. Master Class at Adam Mickiewicz University. Poznan: 17/11/2023.

(2023). Infinite Anti-Ephemeral Beauty. Presentation at the Intelligent Mobility Design Congress. Shanghai: 27 September 2023.

(2022). Anti-Ephemeral Design for Responsible Consumption and Production of Mobility. Keynote Presentation at the EURECA-PRO Conference. Leon: 20 October 2022.

(2022). European EV Design Trends. Presentation at World Design Cities Conference - Automotive Design Summit Forum. Shanghai: 17 September 2022.

(2022). Mobility Metamorphosis – Introduction. Presentation at Mobility Metamorphosis Symposium. Royal College of Art. London: 6 May 2022.

(2021). Ecofitting. Presentation at: The Materialists Online Symposium. Royal College of Art. London: 6 October 2021.

(2021). Novos Paradigmas da Mobilidade. Presentation at: IED-SP (Istituto Italiano di Design São Paulo) Smart Cities course. São Paulo: 4 May 2021.

(2021). Ecofitting: Whole-life designs upgrading cars to zero emissions. Presentation at: CENTS Online Conference 2021. Warwick: 12 January 2021.

(2019). Breakthrough. Presentation at: 4th SAIC Design and Design Academy Forum. Shanghai: The Innovation Port, 30 October 2019.

(2019). Placemaking and Mobility. Presentation at: MaaS Market. ITS International. London: Inmarsat, 20 March 2019.

(2018). Brands? Presentation at: SAIC Design and Design Academy Forum. Shanghai: The Innovation Port, 25 October 2018.

(2018). Design <> Research: IMDC and MFRG. Exhibition at: London Design Festival. London: Battersea Village, 20-22 September 2018.

(2018). Integration of Automotive vehicles and Smart Buildings. Presentation at: Smart Buildings 2018. London: UBS Unwired, 9th May 2018.

(2018). The Future of the car: Epilogue. – with Dr Chris Thorpe. Presentation at: The Future of the car. London: Design Museum, 17 March 2018.

(2017). Smart Cities e os desafios da cidade contemporânea: mudança climática e resiliência – with Marja Edelman. Presentation at: IED. São Paulo: Istituto Europeo di Design, 21 September, 2017.

(2017). Design para as Cidades do Futuro. Round table presentation at Smart Cities Talks – Mobilidade. São Paulo. Insituto Cubo, 16 August 2017.

(2016). Mudança de Paradigma: o design na era da sustentabilidade. Presentation at: Design Week. Maua: Universidade Maua, September 2016.

(2015). Nike, Rolling Sculptures and the Jellyfish. Presentation at: Universidade Anhembi Morumbi Design Post-graduation School. São Paulo, November 2015.

(2015). Design e Arquitetura do Luxo. Master Class at: Maison du Luxe. Curitiba; ISAE FGV, September 2015.

(2015). Design e Arquitetura do Luxo. Master Class at: Maison du Luxe. São Paulo: ISAE FGV, June 2015.