Joana Lessa holds a PhD in Design from the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Lisbon, with a grant from the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT); a Master's Degree in Multimedia Technology from the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Porto; and a college diploma in Communication Design from the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Porto (1999), being honoured with the Engenheiro António de Almeida Foundation's prestigious award (Porto, Portugal). She earned a tenured position as an adjunct professor in the department of arts and design at the University of the Algarve, where she commenced her career in 1999. Her present obligations encompass various roles in the field of Communication Design. These roles involve acting as responsable and lecturer for multiple subjects in the undergraduate Communication Design degree, such as the Digital Design Project, Interaction and Multimedia Design, History and Theories of Design, and Typography. Additionally, she fulfils teaching responsibilities in the postgraduate programme, specifically the Master's degree in Communication Design for Culture and Tourism. Furthermore, she performs the duties of facilitator and tutor in final design projects. Prior positions held include: Director of the Communication Design Course; Sub-Director of the Communication Design Course; Coordinator of Design Internships; Member of the Pedagogical Council; Member of the Scientific Council; Member of the Course Self-Evaluation Committee; and Member of the Committee for the Revision of the Design Course to the Bologna Process. She is a researcher who is actively involved in the CIAUD Research Centre for Architecture, Urbanism, and Design at FAUL. Specifically, she is a part of the research group called "Design, Interaction, and Visualisation" inside the CIAUD Research Centre. Additionally, she is also affiliated with the CIAUD Design Pole at UAlg. Her research interests encompass various areas such as interaction design, experience design, digital and interactive media, emotive design, multi-sensory design, water museums, post-digital museums, and cultural tourism. She conducts her design research by employing multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary research methods. This involves engaging in dialogue and interaction with various fields such as psychology, psychophysiology, music, engineering, education, cultural tourism, tangible and intangible heritage, and marketing. As a result, her work has been published in international journals, and presented at significant international conferences. By invitation, she became a member of several scientific and review committees for international journals; a member of the advisory committee of the Water Museum Global Network (WAMU-NET), an UNESCO initiative; and a member of the UNESCO Chair in Ecohydrology at the University of the Algarve, collaborating with her research and expertise.