Aarya is a design researcher at Rural Lab, Highlands and Islands campus. She believes in the practice of thinking through making. She is passionate about designing services to make them tangible to people. She is committed to collaborative problem-solving methods to build sustainable rural communities. She believes in community-based initiatives and transformation that involve place-based thinking. Aarya completed her post-graduation in Design Innovation and Environmental Design from the Glasgow School of Art in 2023. Since then she has had a growing interest in participatory design and codesign practices for social innovation. She aims to use her skills for sustainable development in the Highlands and Islands, focusing on resilient and healthy rural life.