Rate My Professor Ilya Fridman

Dr Ilya Fridman serves as Senior Lecturer and Deputy Head of the Department of Design within the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture at Monash University. He earned his PhD in Design from Monash University in 2016, with a thesis titled "Battery-electric route bus: a platform for vehicle design." As a core member of the Emerging Technologies Research Lab, Fridman's research investigates the application of design thinking and making in interdisciplinary contexts, emphasizing co-design, participatory design, emerging technologies, and sustainable development. He actively leads as Program Director for Design Thinking, delivering courses to aspiring entrepreneurs across the Monash Business School and Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture, while incorporating innovative technologies to boost student engagement and learning outcomes.

Fridman has spearheaded numerous industry- and government-funded projects, including the design of Victoria’s inaugural battery-electric route bus, state-funded initiatives for transitioning regional cities to locally powered electric bus fleets, the Electric Bus Project, Volgren EV Roof Design, and current efforts on leveraging emerging technologies for logistics and warehousing transformation. He has secured grants such as the Indonesia-Australia Citarum Action Research Program on circular economy transitions (2023-2024) and the City of Melbourne City Data Futures Prototype (2021). His contributions have been recognized with the Vice-Chancellor’s Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning (2021), Gold Good Design Award for "City Sensing Data Futures" (2023), and VIVID Lighting Award for "Diagrid Pendant Lights (Version 2)" (2014). Notable publications encompass "An exploratory study of organisational and industry drivers for the implementation of emerging technologies in logistics" (2023, Industrial Management & Data Systems), "Laying the groundwork: Building trust with a marginalised community in Mumbai, India" (2024, PDC Proceedings), "Creative, effective, transformative: creative learning and educator practice in education for sustainable development" (2025, Environmental Education Research), and contributions to proceedings on public transport innovation and zero-emission buses. Fridman has also presented public lectures, including "Rubbish on the shore: Culture, collaboration and addressing the issue" (2024) and events at Melbourne Design Week (2021).