The creative engine of the project Design Wings is talented people who have graduated during the last three years, have ideas and knowledge, and are willing to put their skills into practice. They create design solutions that promote social impact.
Design Wings is a practical opportunity for talented people to gain experience and contribute to the future of business by developing competitive design products and services that promote social impact. The project involves emerging designers, each continuing for five months at one of the participating companies or NGOs.
The main benefits for designers are:
THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW SUCCESS
The designers participating in the project, Design Wings, will reveal their competencies in companies and NGOs and contribute to the successful development of the country's cultural and creative industries sector, business competitiveness, and growth.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
While creating design solutions, designers will work and pursue a typical creative result with competent project mentors with extensive professional experience.
KNOWLEDGE AND IMPROVEMENT
The training provided during the project will help all participants take on the challenges ahead and quickly penetrate new knowledge about digitization, innovation, and social impact.
RECOGNITION AND COMPENSATION
We selected project participants who received scholarship contracts for five months. They are expected to become competitive players in the labor market by the end of the project. The estimated amount of the scholarship is 1700 Eur /monthly (all necessary costs for tools, programs, licenses, etc., are included in the scholarship indicated).
Rokas Juozulynas
Visual communication
Rokas graduated from the Vilnius Academy of Arts in 2023 with a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design. He describes himself as a fun-loving designer who embraces serendipity and finds solutions through action.
If given the chance to address one societal issue through design, Rokas would focus on reducing loneliness and social exclusion. “Technology and social media have opened up a new world for us—but in many ways, that world can feel isolating,” he says.
NPO ‘Verslas ar Menas’, mentor Pijus Cicėnas.
Gita Gajauskienė
Visual communication
Gita Gajauskienė holds a Master’s degree in International Law from Mykolas Romeris University (2012) and a Master’s degree in Graphic Design from Vilnius College of Technology and Design (2022).
Her creative path has been shaped by two distinct yet complementary fields: law and graphic design. This interdisciplinary background enables Gita to approach the design process with both analytical precision and creative empathy. For her, design is rooted in emotion and meaning.
Gita’s strength lies in her ability to bridge disciplines, uncover unexpected solutions, and craft visual narratives that are not only aesthetically compelling but also deeply purposeful. She has experience working on social and community-driven projects—from research to visual communication strategies.
If given the opportunity to address a societal issue through design, Gita would focus on reducing social exclusion.
JSC "Leonpolio dvaro kooperatyvas“, mentor Emilija Užukauskienė.
Gerda Adiklytė
User Experience, User Interface (UX/UI) design
Gerda Adiklytė graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Arts from the Vilnius Academy of Arts in 2022. She works across UX/UI and communication design, while deepening her expertise in visual identity creation. Actively engaged in the cultural field, Gerda closely follows developments in the arts and seeks intersections between art and design where she can express her creative voice.
If given the opportunity to address a societal issue through design, Gerda would focus on increasing the accessibility and visibility of contemporary art in regional areas.
NPO "Lietuvos etnosporto komitetas“, mentor Igor Gubaidulin.
Darius Odinas
Visual communication
Darius Odinas graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design from the Vilnius Academy of Arts, Klaipėda Faculty, in 2023. He is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Visual Design, which he plans to complete in 2025. In 2023, Darius also completed Junior Officer Commander Training at the General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania.
He has actively participated in various design competitions and creative events, achieving notable successes. In 2022, Darius took part in the exhibition "Contemporary Graphic Spaces," organized by the Klaipėda Cultural Communication Centre, where he showcased his works in acrylic painting. In the same year, he won first place in the poster competition "Rise and Shine Against Sexual Harassment," organized by the Crime Prevention Centre of Lithuania. He also earned first place in the poster competition "Lighthouse: Object, Logo, Photography, Product Design" in 2024. That same year, Darius won first place in the Design Week '24 poster competition. These events and competitions not only allowed him to present his work to a wider audience but also strengthened his skills in visual communication, design decision-making, and conceptual creativity.
Darius describes himself as a creative designer with a conceptual mindset, focused on combining aesthetics with meaningful visual communication. He is well-versed in graphic design, poster creation, typography, and composition. His strengths include idea development, meticulous design execution, and a responsible approach to work. "I constantly improve by participating in competitions and exhibitions," says the designer.
If given the opportunity to solve one societal issue through design, Darius would focus on increasing cultural accessibility. As Arsi Patala once said: “Culture should not exist only for those who can afford it.”
SP „Gerų minčių cechas“, mentor Emilija Užukauskienė.
Paulina Galinytė
Visual communication
Paulina Galinytė holds a Bachelor's degree in Violin from the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, as well as a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design from Vilnius College of Design.
Over the course of four years in her creative career, Paulina has explored a wide range of design fields, including packaging, game design, publications, typography, and more. However, she considers her true calling to be identity design, with a focus on social and sustainable design themes, as well as anything related to innovation. Currently, she is particularly focused on developing these areas and processes.
If given the opportunity to address one societal issue, Paulina would primarily work on reducing informational noise on social media, helping creators who produce truly valuable content to be heard, seen, and impactful. She would also like to contribute to the preservation of Lithuania's disappearing ethnic culture.
NPO "Žaliasis kursas", mentor Kaja Elena Brilė.
Gretė Labanauskaitė
Fashion design
Gretė Labanauskaitė graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design from Vilnius College of Design in 2021, and in 2023, she earned a Master's degree in Fashion Design from the Vilnius Academy of Arts.
In 2024, Gretė presented a sensory exhibition titled “Try on a Feeling” at the Kaunas Picture Gallery, where she invited visitors to "try on" not clothes, but the emotions they evoke. The exhibition showcased fashion objects through touch, sound, and smell, offering an opportunity to experience fashion beyond sight. The exhibition was designed for both sighted and visually impaired visitors. In December of the same year, at the Užupis Art Incubator in Vilnius, the designer presented an installation called “Sensory Christmas: Touchable Advent Calendar”. Each calendar box symbolized a different Christmas feeling and invited participants to experience the holiday spirit through touch, exploration, and reflection. This project was also created with accessibility in mind for individuals with visual impairments, while remaining open to sighted visitors to foster a shared sensory experience.
Gretė describes herself as a designer who focuses on the diversity of sensory experiences, emotional connection, and inclusivity. Her works encourage the audience not only to see but to feel. She considers her strength to be the ability to perceive objects not only in their external form but also in their emotional and social context.
If given the opportunity to solve one societal issue through design, Gretė would focus on reducing sensory exclusion, which she identifies as a significant problem. "I believe design has the power to be not only aesthetic but also inclusive—creating equal conditions for all people to experience and understand," she says.
NPO "Unikalus šokis", mentor Edita Tamošiūnienė.
Agata Kivilšo
User Experience, User Interface (UX/UI) design
Agata Kivilšo graduated in 2023 from ISM University of Management and Economics and later deepened her knowledge in user experience and interface design (UX/UI).
Agata describes herself as a curious creator who enjoys the entire design process, from the initial ideas to the validated solutions. It is especially important for her to create not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional solutions that address real user problems. She places great emphasis on research and testing, believing that the best solutions arise from deep understanding and insights. Her strengths include consistency, attention to detail, and a constant drive for improvement, which helps her integrate the latest trends, tools, and AI solutions into her work. Agata believes that a strong UX/UI designer must be able to listen to users and the team, be empathetic, think strategically, and be creative.
If given the opportunity to solve one societal issue through design, Agata would focus on raising awareness about sustainability. She would like to create platforms that help people make more sustainable choices in everyday life, such as responsible consumption, recycling, or sharing items.
SP "Misija E", mentorius Igor Gubaidulin.
Dovilė Bagdonaitė
Visual communication
Dovilė Bagdonaitė earned a Doctorate in Art from the Vilnius Academy of Arts in 2022.
She is an active participant in the cultural and art scene, having held several solo exhibitions and taken part in numerous group shows. In 2022, she was granted the official status of an artist, and in 2023, her creative work was recognized by the Ministry of Culture with a Young Artist Award. Dovilė is also a member of the Lithuanian Interdisciplinary Artists’ Association.
Recently, her main focus has been on publication design and typography. In her personal projects, she is particularly drawn to conceptual and experimental approaches—exploring unconventional formats and incorporating punk elements and kitsch aesthetics into her design work. “Coming into design from an art background, I bring with me a creative mindset, a strong understanding of composition, the ability to incorporate drawing, and a deep sensitivity to context,” she explains.
If given the opportunity to solve one societal issue through design, Dovilė would choose to address gender equality.
NGO "Įvairovės edukacijos namai", mentorius Vilius Vaičius.
Evita Stepulytė
User Experience, User Interface (UX/UI) design
Evita Stepulytė earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Vilnius Academy of Arts in 2024.
Evita is a designer who values the balance between form, function, and aesthetics. Her academic background is in jewelry design, a discipline that taught her precision, attention to detail, and a deep sensitivity to materials. This experience naturally translated into her work in digital design, where she focuses on creating clear, aesthetically refined, and intuitive user experiences. She places high value on minimalism—both visually and functionally—and enjoys designing clean, comprehensible visuals that communicate messages without unnecessary elements.
If given the opportunity to solve one societal issue through design, Evita would address the problem of loneliness in creative work, as she believes it often hinders personal growth and self-confidence.
SP "Syvas", mentor Kaja Elena Brilė.
Vesta Rugilė Nausėdaitė
Visual communication
Vesta Rugilė Nausėdaitė earned her Bachelor's degree in Product Design from the Vilnius Academy of Arts in 2024. During her studies, she participated in several design competitions. Her forest seedling packaging design “HOOT” won first place in a 2021 competition organized by company Skogran and is still being produced and used today. Her seating area concept “RŪŪG” took first place in the 2022 eco-design competition “Libaldi,” praised for its emotionally engaging design and sustainable use of textiles. She has also participated in exhibitions: in 2023, her experimental lighting collection “Woven” was exhibited at “embrioGrafija” and in 2024, her lighting collection “Epiphanies” was showcased at the Vilnius Academy of Arts Graduation Show, at the “SPECTRUM 2” exhibition at the Vartai Gallery, and during Dutch Design Week 2024 in Eindhoven, Netherlands. This collection explores themes of sustainability, materiality, and personal and cultural narrative. After graduating, Vesta Rugilė further honed her knowledge and practical skills at the Netherlands-based design studio “Studio Lukas Cober,” where she worked alongside a designer focused on material-oriented design and craftsmanship.
Vesta Rugilė describes herself as a designer whose practice is grounded in research, storytelling, and a sensitive relationship with materials. She is fascinated by the narratives of objects and their ability to turn design into not only a functional but also an emotionally resonant experience. Her strength lies in combining conceptual thinking with functionality, aiming to create meaningful, socially and environmentally responsible solutions. To her, sustainability is not just about material choices but also about encouraging a reconsideration of our relationship with objects, their origins, and their roles in everyday life. Alongside product design, she is also interested in visual communication—especially packaging design, where graphics, form, and materiality tell a deeper story about the product’s essence and value.
If given the opportunity to solve one societal issue through design, Vesta Rugilė would choose to tackle overconsumption. Her goal is to create long-lasting, culture-nurturing objects that stand in contrast to fast consumerism. She believes that timeless design can cultivate a more conscious relationship with objects, promote more responsible consumption, and contribute to building a more sustainable future.
SP "Techi", mentor Lukas Ruškys.
Agnė Sluckutė
Visual communication
In 2022, Agnė Sluckutė graduated from Vilnius College of Design. That same year, she won the Young Designer Prize, becoming one of the three winners with her graduation project, the publication “Sapnoraštis.” In the project, she explored the connection between dreams and creativity, presenting her findings in a publication structured in three parts: a theoretical section, textual and visual material inspired by dreams that fostered creativity, and an interactive poster designed to stimulate creative thinking. Using the diary format as the foundation of the publication’s concept, she created a memorable and engaging reading experience while also touching on the importance of sleep. Later, in 2024, a photo montage inspired by the dream state was published in NOIA magazine (Issue 3: States).
When describing herself as a designer, Agnė says her creative work is shaped by two distinct sides of her personality – creative and logical. This duality allows her to approach design challenges from multiple angles and arrive at unexpected yet functional outcomes. She also knows how to step back from the role of a designer and examine the problem from another perspective – for example, questioning whether a design is understandable and effective for its target audience. “But often I realize that, at the heart of it, everything I do is guided by curiosity,” she reveals.
If she could use design to help solve one societal issue, Agnė would contribute to the development of an accessible mental health support system and promote broader education and engagement around this topic. She would also highlight the issue of loneliness across various age groups – from children to the elderly.
NPO "Domus solis", mentor Lukas Ruškys.
Roberta Gaudiešiūtė
Graphic design
In 2024, Roberta Gaudiešiūtė earned her Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design from the Klaipėda Faculty of the Vilnius Academy of Arts.
In 2021, she won 3rd place in the innovation hackathon “Unlock SDGs”, which focused on solving ecological challenges. Later, in 2023, Roberta participated in and won the competition to design the visual branding for Klaipėda’s electric buses and water buses. As a result, the city’s new eco-friendly public transport now features graphics created by her. She actively takes part in various creative events, including GameJam, design workshops, hands-on sessions, and Erasmus exchange programs related to art and the use of game elements in education.
As a designer, Roberta is technically skilled, responsible, and curious across disciplines. She is proficient in a wide range of design software, and animation is one of her favorite fields. Her diverse interests drive her to continuously expand her skills and knowledge. While she enjoys creative tasks, her work process is always structured and methodical. “I tend to dive deep into every detail, so I aim to deliver each project not only creatively but also with technical precision. It’s important to me that the final result is of high quality and meets both the client’s expectations and my own standards,” says Roberta.
If she could use design to address one societal issue, Roberta would focus on educating children about environmental sustainability. She envisions creating an interactive, game-based solution that would help young audiences grasp the importance of ecology. In her view, playful, visually engaging, and creatively presented information enables children to better absorb complex concepts and fosters a sense of environmental responsibility from an early age. Design has the power to shape thinking and values, and childhood is the stage when those changes can have the most lasting impact.
NPO "Garstyčios grūdelis", mentorius Vilius Vaičius.
Rugilė Kniazytė
Visual communication
Rugilė Kniazytė holds a BA in Graphic Design from Northumbria University (United Kingdom) and an MSc in Business Management (Global Leadership and Strategy) from ISM University of Management and Economics.
For her final undergraduate project, Rugilė created a mental health support journal titled “A Clear Horizon”, based on psychological expertise in the therapeutic and creative benefits of writing. The project caught the attention of psychologists at St. Nicholas Psychiatric Hospital, where it was later implemented during therapy sessions. The journal was used to guide patients through self-reflective questions and tasks, offering space for creative expression through drawing and writing, ultimately helping them gain new insights about themselves and their surroundings.
Rugilė describes herself as a designer whose path to graphic design was shaped by various disciplines—including photography, illustration, drawing, and painting. This multidisciplinary background developed her ability to merge different forms of expression in search of visual solutions to diverse challenges. In her view, design is not only seen with the eyes, but felt with the heart. While it is a strategic tool, it must also be grounded in sincerity and empathy—because design shapes culture, culture defines values, and values set the course for the future. “For me, every project is an opportunity to communicate a message that resonates with a person’s inner world and reflects their values. At this stage in my practice, I consider my key strength to be finding a synergy between analytical and intuitive thinking, and using that to create the most fitting visual solution,” she explains.
If she could use design to solve one societal issue, Rugilė would focus on improving access to education, as it is directly linked to social exclusion and economic inequality.
NGO "Senjorų pasaulis", mentor Lukas Ruškys.
Artur Ostrowski
Fashion design
Artur Ostrowski holds a BA in Fashion Design from Vilnius Academy of Arts.
Artur’s creative work reflects not only who he is as a designer but also as a person. In his practice, he explores and experiments with traditional garment structures—deconstructing and reshaping them in search of new possibilities for function and transformation. For Artur, the creative process is just as important as the wearability of the final piece in everyday life. His key strength lies in his engineering mindset, which allows him to independently develop an initial idea into a fully realized product. “I’ve successfully mastered my own design process,” he says, “which gives me the freedom to continuously discover new ways of approaching projects of various scales.” For him, a garment should not only stand out visually but also meet real user needs—becoming a functional, adaptable object with a repeatable usage cycle.
If he could use design to solve one societal issue, Artur would address overconsumption.
“We live in an age of rapidly accelerating consumerism—we’re constantly influenced by an endless stream of content, comparing ourselves to retouched images and being pushed to strive for a ‘better version’ of ourselves,” he explains. As a designer, Artur seeks to restore a sense of meaning for the consumer, encouraging more conscious reflection on habits. He does this by exploring functionality—creating garments that can be worn and transformed in multiple ways to suit different needs, maximizing their potential. Through this approach, he aims to show that design can be not only aesthetically pleasing but also meaningful and sustainable.
NPO "Menų terasa", mentor Edita Tamošiūnienė.
Emilija Žebuolytė
Visual communication
Emilija Žebuolytė graduated from Vilnius Design College in 2023. She describes herself as an illustrator and animation creator—two fields where she is constantly discovering new inspiration, refining her style, and strengthening her skills. Her key strengths as a designer lie in idea generation, creative storytelling, precision, and attention to detail. “I’m happy to create because I simply can’t not create!” she says.
If given the opportunity to use design to address a societal issue, Emilija would focus on reducing gender inequality. She consistently highlights this issue in her work, aiming to raise awareness and spark conversations through her visual storytelling.
JSC "BIOK laboratorija", mentor Pijus Cicėnas.