Nithikul Nimkulrat

nnimkulrat@ocadu.ca
Professor, Tenured
Faculty of Design
craft research
Digital Fabrication
embodiment
experiential knowledge
textiles

Dr. Nithikul Nimkulrat intertwines research with textile practice, focusing on experiential knowledge in craft processes in the context of design research. Nithikul is Full Professor in the Faculty of Design at OCAD University in Canada and was the Acting Chair of the Material Art & Design program (2020–2023). She is the recipient of the 2022/2023 OCAD University Award for Distinguished Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity.

Her PhD research completed in 2009 at Aalto University in Finland examines the expressivity of textile material that is beyond visible, touchable qualities. Nithikul has worked at Aalto University as PhD Researcher and subsequently Postdoc Researcher (2004–2010), Loughborough University as Lecturer in Textiles (2011–2013), Estonian Academy of Arts as Professor and Head of Department of Textile Design and Design Research Group (2013–2018). She was an elected council member of the Design Research Society (DRS) (2013–2019) and is the convener of DRS Special Interest Group on Experiential Knowledge (EKSIG) (2013–present).

Nithikul is an experienced PhD supervisor and external examiner and has extensively published her research in peer-reviewed publications and exhibited her textiles internationally. Her recent book is Craft and Design Practice from an Embodied Perspective published by Routledge in July 2024.