Manu Thundathil

Dr. Manu Thundathil is an Associate Professor at the School of Architecture & Product Design, University of Limerick, specializing in sustainable material design and biocomposites. His research bridges industrial design and materials engineering to develop eco-friendly consumer products from waste streams. He actively investigates material perception mechanisms to enhance consumer acceptance of sustainable alternatives.

Education:

• PhD in Product Design, University of Canterbury
• Masters in Industrial Design, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
• Bachelor in Polymer Engineering, Mahatma Gandhi University

Research Focus: Thundathil's work centers on sustainable material innovation, particularly biocomposites derived from biological/post-consumer waste. His research examines how visual-tactile perception influences consumer adoption of eco-materials and advocates for frugal design principles. Key areas include material semiotics, sensory evaluation of biocomposites, and design methodologies for circular economies.

Publication Trends: Recent articles (2023-2025) predominantly explore sensory perception (tactile/visual) of biocomposites, design strategies for sustainable material acceptance, and waste-derived material fabrication. His work consistently links material science with consumer psychology to address sustainability challenges.

Professional Activities: He currently serves on the COST Action committee (2025-2029) and maintains collaborations with international institutions including University of Canterbury and University of Bremen. Previous roles include Teaching Fellow at University of Canterbury and Program Coordinator at Kerala State Institute of Design.