Nithikul Nimkulrat

Nithikul Nimkulrat is a Professor and Head of Department of Textile Design at the Estonian Academy of Arts since 2013. She has previously held roles at Aalto University (2004–2010) and Loughborough University (2011–2013). Her research bridges textile practice with experiential knowledge in craft processes, emphasizing design research and mathematical integration in textile art.

Her academic journey includes a Doctor of Arts degree (2009) from Aalto University, focusing on textile material expressivity beyond visible/touchable qualities. She has been an elected council member of the Design Research Society (DRS) and convenes the DRS Special Interest Group on Experiential Knowledge (EKSIG).

Research interests revolve around textile design, craft processes, and mathematical modeling in textiles. Recent work explores interactive textiles for nonverbal communication and collaborative making in craft and virtual reality. Publications like Crafting Textiles in the Digital Age (Bloomsbury, 2016) highlight her contributions.

Key article trends include

• mathematical diagrams for knotted textiles
• somaesthetic interactions via disturbing experiences
• experiential knowledge in interdisciplinary design
• interactive artifacts for inclusive education

Scientific awards:

• Publishing Scholar of the Year (2016, Estonian Academy of Arts)
• Distinguished Reviewer, Journal of Research Practice (2007)

Supervision includes PhD and Master’s students working on topics such as heritage production, handbag design, and interactive light textiles. She has also served as an external examiner for universities globally.