GUDC-EU is a Norwegian startup that promotes universal design (UD) through social innovation. We host participatory design workshops and hackathons that build competence and generate ideas for new initiatives centered around social impact and universal design. We incubate new social startups, and we also initiate transforming projects within established organizations.
The team
Our team has, over the years, acquired vast knowledge within social innovation, universal design, Human-Computer-Interaction, public speaking, design thinking, project management, and business development. GUDC-EU has also established strong cooperation with government agencies, businesses, and civil society organizations all around the world.
Collaboration
Some of our recent projects include social innovation workshops, collaborations on different EU projects, guest speaking on panels related to equality and universal design, and our in-house innovation COZIN won OsloMets innovation price in 2018. We have mentored 18 startups, and are always open to new and exciting ideas. If you have a new idea or project which relates to universal design or social innovation, we'd love to hear all about it!
Our staff
Anthony Giannoumis
Chair of the Board of Directors
Dr. G. Anthony Giannoumisis an action researcher that focuses on technology policy and practice. He is an internationally recognized expert in universal design of information and communication technology (ICT) and conducts state-of-the-art research on implementing universal design principles in practice. He is Chair of the Board and co-founder of the GUDC-EU, and is an Associate Professor of Universal Design of ICT at the Department of Computer Science at OsloMet.
Elise is passionate about teaching people how to use their creativity to solve problems and come up with ideas that can create a better world. She has organized innovation workshops and led concept development projects for several organizations working on initiatives for innovation and sustainability. She has consulted for social startups, corporations and public sector actors, providing help with communications strategy, business development and event planning, and she is also an Advisory Board Member at Development Goals Forum. Elise has a bachelors degree in Media & Communications and is now enrolled in a masters programme in Organization & Leadership at the University of Oslo.
Anne Igeltjørn is an award-winning social entrepreneur and the CEO of GUDC-EU. As a serial entrepreneur, she has the expertise to identify opportunities where others see only challenges. She has a Bachelor's degree from Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet) with a focus on universal design and human-computer interaction (HCI). She is now in the master's program of Applied Computer and Information Technology at OsloMet, specializing in Universal Design of ICT. She also serves on the board of directors for Gender Equality in Technology, a student organization at OsloMet.
