The research has primarily been directed at the strategic level within theory and practice, and looked at what implications the brand context has for industrial designers' treatment of form.
[5][6][7] As part of her doctoral research Hestad also investigated how end user involvement in all stages of a product life cycle changes the assumptions of the design process.
[9] From 2002 to 2003 Hestad was part of a commission appointed by the Norwegian Government (Council of State) to suggest a new Higher Education Act[10] for Norway.
Stray Ryssdal, produced Official Norwegian Report NOU 2003:25[11] which led to the Parliament passing a new comprehensive Higher Education Act in 2005.
[12] Hestad resides in London, where she leads the consultancy Brand Valley Design[13] and a lectures at Central Saint Martins.