Area(s) of Expertise
experiential knowledge, interdisciplinary practice, materialness, research through design, TextilesOverview
Nithikul Nimkulrat is a practitioner-researcher who intertwines research with textile practice, focusing on experiential knowledge in craft processes in the context of design research. Prior to her current appointment as a Tenured Associate Professor at OCAD University, Nithikul has worked at Estonian Academy of Arts (Estonia, 2013–2018), Loughborough University (UK, 2011–2013), and Aalto University (Finland, 2004–2010), where she earned a doctorate in 2009. During her sabbatical year (2017–2018), Nithikul was based at Emily Carr University of Art + Design in Vancouver, Canada, as a designer-in-residence in Fall 2017, and in Spring 2018, she had a research stay funded by German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) at Weißensee Academy of Art Berlin, Germany.
Nithikul's active involvement in international research networks can be recognised by her leading roles as the convenor of the Design Research Society (DRS) Special Interest Group on Experiential Knowledge (EKSIG) and the leader of the Cumulus Association's Fashion and Textile Working Group. She is also a member of the editorial board of Artifact: Journal of Design Practice. One of her recent publications is Crafting Textiles in the Digital Age published by Bloomsbury Academic in 2016.
Education
1997 Bachelor of Industrial Design, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
2002 Master of Arts, Textile Art and Design, Aalto University, Finland
2009 Doctor of Arts, Design, Aalto University, Finland
Professional Experience
2018–present Associate Professor, OCAD University, Canada
2013–2018 Professor of Textile Design / Head of Department of Textile Design, Estonian Academy of Arts, Estonia
2011–2013 Lecturer in Textiles / Multi-Media Textiles Pathway Leader, Loughborough University, UK
2010 Postdoctoral Researcher, Aalto University, Finland
2004–2009 Doctoral Researcher, Aalto University, Finland
2003–2012 Designer-Maker, Artist, Ini Creation, Finland (own company)
1997–2000 Industrial Textile Designer / R&D, Satin Textiles Co., Ltd., Bangkok, Thailand
Selected Exhibitions
2019–2020 Interwoven, EMMA Espoo Museum of Modern Art, Finland
2019 Research Through Design, Delft Science Museum, The Netherlands
2018 Bridges 2018 Math Art Exhibition, Swedish National Museum of Science and Technology, Sweden
2017 Intersections, Loughborough University, London, UK
2017 Bridges 2017 Math Art Exhibition, University of Waterloo, Canada
2017 Lace and Luxury, Salo Art Museum, Finland
2016 The Little Tree and Birds (solo exhibition), University of Lapland, Rovaniemi, Finland
2016 Bridges 2016 Math Art Exhibition, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
2016 The White Forest (solo exhibition), Hop Gallery, Tallinn, Estonia
2015 TRIP two: Textiles Research in Process, Design and Architecture Gallery, Tallinn, Estonia
2015 Mind Scape, International Women’s Art Exhibition, The Gallery of Art and Design, Silpakorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
2015 Research Through Design, Microsoft Research, Cambridge, UK
2014 Zeitgenössische textillkunst [Contemporary Textile Art], Kunstlerhaus, Nürnberg, Germany
2014 From Lausanne to Beijing, 8th International Fiber Art Biennale, 1895 Creative Cultural Industry Park, Nantong, China
2014 OrnaMENTAALNE, Tallinn Art Hall, Tallinn, Estonia
2014 Coded: Decoded, The Mall Galleries, London, UK
2013 9th International Baltic Minitextile Triennial, Ararat Regional Art Gallery, Victoria, Australia and Museum of Gdynia, Poland
Awards \ Grants
2016 Publishing Scholar of the Year (Honourable Mention), Estonian Academy of Arts, Tallinn, Estonia
2010 Golden Peak Award, Finnish Professional Graphic Designers
2010 One of the Most Beautiful Books (Non-Fiction) of the Year 2009, Finnish Book Arts Committee
2008 Prize of the Public, 12th International Lace Biennial – Contemporary Art, St Gallen, Switzerland
2007 Prize of the Public, 12th International Lace Biennial – Contemporary Art, Heidelberg, Germany
2007 Distinguished Reviewer, Journal of Research Practice
2006 Silver Bobbin, 12th International Lace Biennial – Contemporary Art, Brussels, Belgium
Commissions
2018 Public art proposal for Väre, new building of Aalto University, School of Arts, Design and Architecture
2011 Unique pieces for the 75th anniversary of Aalto Vase, Iittala Oyj, Finland
Selected Publications
Books
Nimkulrat, N., Ræbild, U., & Piper, A. (eds.) (2018). Soft Landing [Cumulus Think Tank Publication Series]. Helsinki: Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture.
Nimkulrat, N., Kane, F., & Waltan, K. (eds.) (2016). Crafting Textile in the Digital Age. London: Bloomsbury Academic.
Nimkulrat, N. (2009). Paperness: Expressive Material in Textile Art from an Artist’s Viewpoint. Helsinki, Finland: University of Art and Design Helsinki.
Book Chapter
Nimkulrat, N., & Nurmi, T. (2019). Mathematical Design for Knotted Textiles. In B. Sriraman (ed.). Handbook of the Mathematics of the Arts and Sciences. Basel: Springer Nature. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70658-0_39-1
Journal Articles
Nimkulrat, N., & Matthews, J. (2017). Ways of Being Strands: Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration Using Craft and Mathematics. Design Issues, 33(3). 59–72. doi: https://doi.org/10.1162/DESI_a_00461
Nimkulrat, N. (2012). Hands-on Intellect: Integrating Craft Practice into Design Research. International Journal of Design, 6(3), 1–14. http://www.ijdesign.org/index.php/IJDesign/article/viewFile/1228/520
Nimkulrat, N. (2007). The Role of Documentation in Practice-Led Research. Journal of Research Practice, 3(1), Article M6. http://jrp.icaap.org/index.php/jrp/article/view/58/83
Professional Affiliations / Boards / Juries
2017–present Editorial Board Member, Artifact: Journal of Design Practice
2016–present Chair, Fashion and Textile Working Group, Cumulus Association
2016–present Member of Expert Panel Cult2, Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO), Belgium
2014–2019 Editorial Board Member, Studies in Material Thinking
2013–2019 Elected Council Member, Design Research Society (DRS)
2012–present Convenor, Design Research Society (DRS) Special Interest Group on Experiential Knowledge (EKSIG)
2007–2019 Editorial Board Member, Journal of Research Practice
2003–present Member, Finnish Association of Designers Ornamo (Textile Artists TEXO, Artists O)