Zakkiya Khan

Zakkiya Khan is a Senior Lecturer in Interior Architecture at the University of Brighton, affiliated with the School of Architecture, Technology and Engineering. She holds roles in the Design for Circular Cities and Regions (DCCR) Research Excellence Group and leads the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee at the Lincoln School of Architecture and the Built Environment. Her research focuses on retail design localization, inclusivity in education, and decolonial practices in design education. She has taught across institutions in South Africa, the UK, and Hong Kong, emphasizing collaborative and research-led pedagogy.

Education: PhD in 'Conditions and Strategies for Localising Retail Design for Global Brands' (University of Pretoria, 2022), Master’s in 'Inherit Value: POPUP Skills Training Centre' (University of Pretoria, 2012).

Research Interests: Retail localization, inclusive education policies, spatial narratives, and identity construction in design. She has published widely on retail design, decolonization in curricula, and global design pedagogy.

Key Contributions: Co-edited The Future of Retail and Service Design (2025), organized the Inaugural Designing Retail and Service Futures Colloquium (2023), and contributed to IFI’s global design education policy review. Her work bridges theory and practice, advocating for ethical, community-focused design.

Leadership: Former Programme Leader for BSc Interior Architecture at University of Pretoria (2018–2022), current Advisory Board member at Durban University of Technology’s Interior Design Department. Organizing member of the Design Research Society’s Special Interest Group on Retail and Service Futures.