Federico Lucchesi

Federico Lucchesi, PhD, is a Post-Doc, Lecturer, and Researcher at the Institute of Digital Technologies for Communication (ITDxC). He is a research associate in the project "Visualized relationships - functions and problems. A repertoire-oriented investigation of visual and image-related communication among couples and friends in Switzerland", funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF), in the project "Governance of digital hate speech from users' perspective" funded by BAKOM Ufficio Federale delle Comunicazioni, in the project "Open data strategy for the USI journal SCOMS" in partnership with UniZH and UniFR, and in the project "Generative AI for Higher Education (EduGenAI) lead by Dr. Nicoletta Fornara and Dr. Anna Picco Schwendener." Furthermore, he is the Project Coordinator in the project "Doppio Sguardo: Riflessioni visive" funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF).

He is currently the course director of the BA course "AI e Fotografia: Educazione alla comunicazione visiva e pratiche museali (2024-25)". For the A.A. 2022/2023, he was the Course Director of the BA course "Techniques and tools for analyzing visuals". He has been the Teaching Assistant of the BA course "ICT, Media & Società" (2018-2024) and the BA course "Comunicazione Visiva" (2018-2024).

He holds a PhD in Communication Sciences achieved with manga cum laude at Università della Svizzera italiana with a thesis on "Visual Communication on Social Network Sites for Maintaining Romantic Relationships." He also holds a BA in Communication Sciences and a MA in Advertising and Communication for the Public and Private Sectors, both achieved at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore of Milan with a grade of 110 cum laude/110. In his dissertation works, he investigated "Literature in the Italian radio broadcasting" (BA) and "Non-verbal communication: kinesics and proxemics data analysis within qualitative focus groups" (MA). After his academic studies, he accomplished a state course in Digital Marketing.

Between 2010 and 2018 he worked for several national and international companies as Journalist (SKY Italia, Nonsoloambiente, Il Diciotto), Radio Speaker (Radio21), Digital Communication Specialist (STF), Copywriter (Ventura), Content Editor (Vox), Events Manager (24hAssistance) and Qualitative Market Researcher (Periscope); he also co-founded a Cinema Association (Fool Moon) and worked independently as Public Speaking Consultant. He is the founder and owner of the Swiss hiking association "Trekking Ticino Under 30".

His research interests include social media, visual and online communication, interpersonal communication, and creative visual methods for qualitative research. His doctoral thesis investigated the role of visual communication on social media for maintaining romantic relationships.

From January 2023 (-ongoing), he is a member of Commissione della Casa della Sostenibilità.

From September 2021 to July 2023 he has been an elected member of the USI Academic Senate. 

From October 2019 to September 2020 he has been the PhDs Representative in the Communication, Culture and Society Faculty Council. 

From January 2020 to December 2020, he has been a board member of The Complaints Commission of the Faculty of Communication, Culture and Society.

International Awards:

Top Student Paper Award (2023). International Communication Association (ICA) Visual Communication Studies Division, May 27