Dr Ninela Ivanova

Innovation Fellow: Inclusive Design for Business Impact
The Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design

Dr Ninela Ivanova is an interdisciplinary designer, researcher, educator, and innovation lead. She leads the Inclusive Design for Business Impact work of the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design.

For over a decade, Ninela has collaborated with scientists, technologists, and organisations across domains, to develop novel applications and inclusive solutions for business innovation and education. As Lead of the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design’s Inclusive Design for Business Impact, Ninela oversees research, knowledge exchange and executive education projects that use people-centred and inclusive design to enable companies across industry verticals achieve evidence-based impact. Her work spans systemically embedding inclusive design within organisational processes, policies, innovation strategy, workplace design, leadership, and culture, as well as collaborating with global brands to deliver inclusive products and services.

Ninela supervises multidisciplinary teams to deliver research projects, executive education, inclusive design sprints and co-innovation workshops, with outcomes that include design prototypes, reports and guidelines, frameworks for change, innovation roadmaps and technology specifications. She specialises in working on embargoed and highly confidential projects with global brands, high-security airline operations control, essential services, and the tightly regulated banking sector. Clients include Lloyds Banking Group, TATA Consultancy Services, Northumbrian Water Group, Unilever, OnePlus, Westminster City Council & Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, amongst others.

Ninela has lectured and exhibited her work both nationally and internationally, as well as developing and delivering custom executive education and open masterclasses in inclusive design, design thinking and creative leadership, RCA’s first Inclusive Design for Strategic Innovation Masterclass.

At the RCA, she co-supervises doctoral researchers on topics as varied as financial inclusion, inclusive policy design, olfactory design and XR for community inclusion, as well as guest lecturing on RCA’s MA / MSc / MRes / PhD programmes.

Ninela is also Co-Chair of the RCA’s Research Ethics Network which is a community of practice that aims to grow the research integrity and culture across the College.

Ninela joined the Royal College of Art in January 2018, initially as an AHRC-funded LDoc Post-Doctoral Creative Economy Engagement Research Fellow. Her work was instrumental in building the evidence base for the HHCD’s tripartite Creative Leadership model, which led to the launch of RCA’s Creative Leadership Masterclass in May 2019. Her research brought together design and neuroscience to further knowledge and practical applications of the Creative Leadership model in areas of personal and organisational transformation, as well as innovation projects that holistically address technological, environmental and people factors.

Ninela holds a Master's in Fashion Futures and a PhD in Design Research from Kingston School of Art. The main focus of her research was the development of design probes and participatory methods to advance understanding of challenging concepts intersecting fashion, materials, sensory experiences and human perception.

Ninela welcomes inquiries from corporate, public sector, and institutional partners interested in bespoke executive education, scoping studies, or long-term strategic collaborations.

School, Centre or Area

Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design

Expertise

See all research

Design Different Week - Inclusive Design Business Value and Pathways
IN SESSION: Inclusion = Innovation = Impact?
RCA Executive Education: Creative Leadership Masterclass

More information

Research interests

In 2019, the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design set up its Inclusive Design for Business Impact unit to formalise its legacy of working with the private sector to develop accessible and inclusive products, services, environments and technologies.

Within IDBI, Ninela’s research is focused on diversifying the applications of inclusive design in enabling companies across sectors to fulfil the needs of marginalised and vulnerable groups. The central premise is that to successfully improve outcomes for vulnerable customers, an organisation must embed inclusive design considerations holistically across its design and innovation strategy and infrastructure.

This includes evolving the theory and practice of inclusive design from an empathy-led approach for innovating customer-facing solutions, toward the same principles of empathic engagement and stakeholder inclusion being applied by organisations to understand and improve their internal culture, values, processes, policies, workplace design and outputs.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Ninela extended this into organisational design and transformation, by conceptualising inclusive design applications within business continuity planning. Ninela defined people-centred business continuity planning as an approach to embedding agility, resilience and preparedness holistically across an organisation’s strategic and operational architecture, through real-time assessment, training, and development of dynamic capabilities (Ivanova, 2022).

Practice

Ninela is a design and innovation consultant working on inter- and multidisciplinary collaborative projects.

Highlights include:

Collaboration with studio Sebastian Cox (RDI) on biobased furniture using fungal mycelium. Building on from Ninela’s PhD, the MYCELIUM+TIMBER project explored the remarkable and ancient material relationship between wood and mycelium (fungus) to biofacture contemporary domestic furniture, developing new applications for previously overlooked and sustainable materials. The project was first displayed at London Design Festival: Design Frontiers 2017, and has since then been exhibited internationally. It currently resides in the Young V&A as a featured case study to inspire the next generations to think about the role of design in shaping material futures.

Collaboration with neuroscience consultancy MindRheo. Through the development of participatory workshops that intersect design practice and science, Ninela was introduced to the concept of neuroplasticity, and began to see the potential for intelligent design of products to educate, communicate, and inspire audiences towards innovation, collaboration, and new futures on a personal, professional, and global scale. Together with Dr Melanie Flory (MindRheo’s Founding Director), she designed and tested a series of probes that aimed to train diverse audience groups in emotional regulation and new futures thinking. The project has been exhibited internationally, including delivery of two workshops at the Wellcome Reading Room.

Research funding

Academic Lead (Jun - Jul 2025). Design Thinking: Why fund the Arts & Humanities? University of Roehampton. Custom Executive Education

Principal Investigator (Mar - Aug 2024). Framework to promote financial inclusion through an examination of structures, processes and behaviours in the design and innovation processes. Innovate UK & Lloyds Banking Group. Accelerated Knowledge Transfer (1522).

Principal Investigator (Apr - Jun 2023). Better for Everyone. Home improvement company. Scoping study

Academic Lead (Jul - Sep 2022). Rexona: Inclusive Design Principles. Unilever. Consultancy

Principal Investigator (Feb - May 2022). The Future of Human Betterment. International sporting goods company. Scoping study

Academic Lead (Jan - Jun 2022). Creative Leadership for Inclusive Innovation. Northumbrian Water Group. Custom Executive Education

Academic Lead (Dec 2021 - Jan 2022). Inclusive Design for a Virtual Library Pilot. Westminster City Council & Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Consultancy

Academic Lead (Apr - May 2021). RESILIENCE: A people-centred approach to open up visionary thinking, design directions and opportunity areas for the next generation of smartphone technologies. OnePlus. Design sprint

Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship (Jan - Dec 2018). Creative Economy Engagement. AHRC-funded London Doctoral Design Centre (LDoc). Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design, Royal College of Art

PhD Studentship (2011 - 2014). PhD Design Research. Kingston School of Art, Kingston University London

Awards

RCA Knowledge Exchange Champion: Best Social Award, 2022

Current and recent projects

Design Thinking: Why fund the Arts & Humanities?

2025, University of Roehampton & AHRC

Ninela led a multi-stakeholder workshop (including The National Archives and Local Government) to architect the value proposition for a new national Doctoral Landscape Award, including a strategic blueprint and actionable EDI framework that redefined impact metrics and integrated skills-based professional pathways into doctoral education.

Embedding Inclusive Design in Financial Services Innovation

2024, Lloyds Banking Group & Innovate UK

This was an accelerated knowledge transfer project aimed at evaluating the internal innovation processes and structures at Lloyds Banking Group. Together with 40+ design management stakeholders, we co-produced a framework for change to embed inclusive design principles that realigned governance, risk metrics and organisational processes to ensure the sustainable practice of inclusive innovation across the group’s strategic roadmap.

Better for Everyone

2023, Large home improvement company

This was a strategic collaboration to integrate inclusivity into the ‘Better for Everyone’ initiative of the company, translating complex user needs into future-state home experiences across diverse demographics. The focus was on neurodivergence, which informed immediate product development and long-term brand impact.

Degree: Inclusive Design Guidelines

2022, Unilever

Ninela led the co-production of global Inclusive Design guidelines for Unilever’s Degree brand. The aim was to position inclusive design as strategic brand value and establish sector-wide thought leadership for Unilever.

Creative Leadership for Inclusive Innovation

2022, Northumbrian Water Group

Ninela co-designed and led a 6-month custom executive education programme for 34 innovation leads across the company, which raised the inclusive innovation capability and lead to improved outcomes for marginalised customer groups.

Future of Human Betterment

2022, International sporting goods company

Ninela led a multi-disciplinary design team to define and model the concept of human betterment within the sportswear ecosystem, including a comprehensive experience blueprint and a repository of insights to identify high-impact opportunity spaces for strategic innovation.

Inclusive Design for a Virtual Library Pilot

2021, Westminster City Council & Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea

A multiple-stakeholder scoping project which co-produced design scenarios and user experience specifications for a virtual library to best serve community needs.

Resilience

2021, OnePlus Technologies

Ninela led a 6-day design sprint to define ‘resilience’ as a strategic brand pillar for OnePlus, identifying a portfolio of future-state innovation opportunities leveraging next-gen technologies to drive measurable business impact.

Air Control Reimagined

2018-2019, TATA Consultancy Services & Large Asian airline

The project was an international strategic collaboration to transform staff and customer experience via the airline operations control centre, balancing complex technical UX specifications, performance requirements and workplace wellbeing needs.

Publications, exhibitions, other outcomes

Publications

Ivanova, N. (2022). People‐centred business continuity: a case for inclusive design. Design Management Journal, 17(1), 30-48. https://doi.org/10.1111/dmj.12076.

Unilever & HHCD (2022). Degree: Getting started on your inclusive design journey. [Industry guidelines]. https://www.unileverusa.com/files/92ui5egz/production/1a6bd9c7b783eaf7ef6fd28c4f35146a712ffc55.pdf.

Flory, M., Ivanova, N., & McGinley, C. (Eds.). (2022). INCLUDE 2022. Unheard Voices. Proceedings of the 11th Inclusive Design Conference Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design. Royal College of Art. ISSN 2753-5878.

Ivanova, N. (2022). Fungi for Material Futures: The Role of Design. In: S. K. Deshmukh, M. V. Deshpande, & K. R. Sridhar (Eds.), Fungal Biopolymers and Biocomposites (pp. 209–251). Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-1000-5_12.

Gheerawo, R., Flory, M. & Ivanova, N. (2020). Creative Leadership: design meets neuroscience to transform leadership. Design Management Journal, 15(1), 102-117. https://doi.org/10.1111/dmj.12063.

Ivanova, N., Gheerawo, R., Poggi, J., Gadzheva, I. & Ramster, G. (2020). Towards a Gold Standard Operations Control Centre (OCC): Applying Creative Leadership principles in the re-design of an OOC at a leading international airline. Proceedings of the 22nd dmi: Academic Design Management Conference (dmi: ADMC2020): Impact the Future by Design, Toronto, Canada (online).

Flory, M. & Ivanova, N. (2019). Design meets Neuroscience: Future directions for developing and implementing design probes. In Paul A. Rodgers (Ed.), Design Research for Change (pp. 93-109). Lancaster University, Lancaster. ISBN 978 1 86220 369 3

Ivanova, N. (2019). ‘What is CreativeLeadership?’, dmi: review, 30(2), 6–8.

Flory, M., & Ivanova, N. (2019). Future Directions: Design Meets Neuroscience. Design Management Review, 30(2), 22–29. https://doi.org/10.1111/drev.12177.

Jakob, A., Collier, L. & Ivanova, N. (2019). Implementing Sensory Design for care-home residents in London. International MinD Conference 2019: Designing with and for People with Dementia: Wellbeing, Empowerment and Happiness. Dresden, Germany, 19-20 September 2019.

Ivanova, N. (2016). ‘The T-probe: Advancing engagement with material concepts and sensory experiences’, 10th International Conference on Design & Emotion: Celebration and Contemplation. Amsterdam, the Netherlands, 27–30 September 2016.

Flory, M. & Ivanova, N. (2016). The Emo-T Global Wall: Design and emotion or emotion-led design?. 10th International Conference on Design & Emotion: Celebration and Contemplation. Amsterdam, the Netherlands, 27-30 September 2016.

Ivanova, N. (2015.) The T-Probe: A fashion-led approach to advance understanding of novel and challenging materials concepts and sensory experiences [PhD Thesis]. Kingston University London.

Ivanova, N. (2013). The Human-Mould-Fashion Relationship: fungi applications for future design scenarios in fashion and textiles fabrication. Futurescan 2: Collective Voices / Association of Fashion and Textiles Courses (FTC). Sheffield, UK. January 2013.

Keynotes, presentations, panel discussion, lectures

Ivanova, N. (2026). Embedding Inclusion: What can we learn from Design? British Council Alumni UK: Disability Inclusion Community of Practice. [Lecture]. British Council [online]. 23 September 2026.

Flory, M. & Ivanova, N. (2026). Mind the Gap: Digital Inclusion. [Discussion]. INCLUDE London 2026. Royal College of Art. London, UK. 10 September 2026.

Ivanova, N. (2025). Design the Unspoken: Design for the 90%. Tanween Design Challenges. [Keynote and mentorship]. King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra). Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. 16 November 2025.

Ivanova, N. (2025). Inclusive Design for Business Impact. [Presentation]. Wandsworth Chamber of Commerce & Royal College of Art. London, UK. 6 March 2025.

Ivanova, N. (2025). Inclusive Innovation in Water Services. Design Dialogues #04. [Lecture]. Winchester School of Art, University of Southampton. Winchester, UK. 26 February 2025.

Ivanova, N. (2024). From WHAT we are designing to WHO we are serving? RCA’s Sodexo Project Launch: Eats & Algorithms: Digitising Food Consumer Experience for a Sustainable Future. [Lecture]. Royal College of Art. London, UK. 18 November 2024.

Ivanova, N. & Collingwood, J. (2024). Inclusive Innovation in Water Services. Academia + Business. [Case study]. Academic Design Management Conference ADMC24. Delft, The Netherlands. 6 August 2024.

Ivanova, N. (2024). Inclusive Design for Meaningful Engagement. Collaborating with Customers Design Sprint. [Keynote]. Northumbrian Water Innovation Festival. Newcastle, UK. 9 July 2024.

Ivanova, N. (2023). Objective of Care. AcrossRCA: Caring Society. [Panellist]. Friends House. London, UK. 6 October 2023.

Ivanova, N. (2023). The Power of Mycelium in Product Design. Fungi Festival. [Lecture]. National Trust – Emmets Garden. Kent, UK. 14 October 2023.

Ivanova, N. (2022). The Radical Use of Mycelium as Product. Fungi Festival. [Lecture]. National Trust – Emmets Garden. Kent, UK. 1 October 2022.

Ivanova, N. (2022). Inclusive Design for Business Impact. [Interview]. Hyve Group plc. London, UK. 22 June 2022.

Ivanova, N., Bilson, C., Ikechi-D’Amico, O. & Briscoe, G. (2022). Design.continuity: How can inclusive design enable businesses to recover, transform and thrive in a post-pandemic and fourth industrial revolution (4IR) world? [Webinar]. Design.Different series of events. London: Royal College of Art. 24 February 2022.

Ivanova, N. & Ikechi-D’Amico, O. (2022). Inclusion = Innovation = Impact?. RCA In Session talks. [Webinar]. London: Royal College of Art. 25 January 2022.

Ivanova, N. (2021). Inclusion - Design - Experience? [Lunchtime talk, online]. Foolproof. 16 December 2021.

Ivanova, N. (2021). Panellist for ‘IoB – Internet of Behaviours: Future New Services and Applications’. [Webinar]. PrivSec Global. 25 March 2021.

Ivanova, N., Flory, M., Myerson, J. & Subramaniam, G. (2020). Inclusive Design Business Value and Pathways [Webinar]. Design.Different series of events. London: Royal College of Art. 15 October 2020.

Ivanova, N. (2020). Panellist for ‘Inclusivity in Design Research Culture’. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Design Research Culture. [Webinar]. Kingston School of Art. 6 July 2020.

Ivanova, N. (2020). Fungi for Material Futures. Tashkeel Live Lecture. [Webinar]. Dubai.16 November 2020.

Ivanova, N. (2020). Design Across Boundaries. Melba. [Webinar]. 25 June 2020.

Ivanova, N. (2020). Panellist for ‘#FrameLive: Orgatec x Frame Design Challenge on workplace solutions’. Agile Wokspace 2.0 [Webinar]. 18 June 2020.

Gheerawo, G., Ivanova, N. & Gadzheva, I. (2019). The Future of Inclusive Design. [Talk on inclusion]. Google. Mountain View, CA, USA. 5 November 2019.

Ivanova, N., (2019). Fungi for Material Futures. Fungi Fest 2019. [Keynote] Hoxton Docks. London, UK. 6 October 2019

Ivanova, N. (2019). Creative Leadership. Aurora Women in Leadership 1st Summer Symposium. [Presentation]. Royal College of Art. London, UK. 8 July 2019.

Responding to (Wildgoose, 2019) ‘Measuring the Silences and the Work of Mourning: Extinction and the Anthropocene,’ Wildgoose Memorial Library at King’s. King’s College. London, UK. 1 March 2019.

Ivanova, N. (2019). Designing with Nature. Changing Futures Week. University of Northampton. Northampton, UK. 4 February 2019.

Presenting (Norman, J. & Pozzani, N., 2017) at ‘Designing with Smell’.
The UK Semiochemistry Network Chemistry Signals in Vertebrates British Workshop XXV. Cambridge, UK. 19 July 2017.

Ivanova, N. (2017). Sense in Textiles: A Shared Space through Fashion. Body & Material Mediated Design, 1st Global Disability Innovation Summit. GDI Hub. London, UK. 13-14 July 2017.

Ivanova, N. (2015). Fashion Sensorial. Fashion & the Senses. London College of Fashion. London, UK. 27 March 2015

Ivanova, N. (2014). Sense in Textiles: the role of wearable textiles and fashion for people with dual sensory impairment. Thinking Differently: Creativity versus Academic Excellence. London College of Fashion. London, UK. 28 October 2014.

Ivanova, N. (2013). Fungi for Textile Futures. The Arts Foundation: A Trans-Disciplinary Approach to Materials Innovation. Victoria & Albert Museum. London, UK. 17 September 2013.

Workshops

Ivanova, N. & Flory, M. (2026). Inclusive Design for Strategic Innovation. RCA Short Courses. [Workshop]. INCLUDE London 2026. Royal College of Art. London, UK. 11 September 2026.

Ivanova, N. (2026). Inclusion > Innovation >> Impact. InnovationRCA - IDE1 Entrepreneurship Catapult. [Workshop]. Royal College of Art. London, UK. 6 July 2026.

Ivanova, N. & McGinley, M. (2026). Creative Leadership Masterclass. RCA Short Courses. Royal College of Art. London, UK. 19-20 March 2026.

Flory, M., Ivanova, N., McGinley, C. & Lo, T. (2026). Design for Betterment. RCA Grand Challenge. [MA/MSc Module delivery]. Royal College of Art. London, UK.

Ivanova, N. & McGinley, M. (2025). Creative Leadership Masterclass. RCA Short Courses. Royal College of Art. London, UK. 9-10 October 2025.

Ivanova, N. (2025). Design Thinking: Why Fund the Arts & Humanities. Custom Executive Education. University of Roehampton. London, UK. 19 June 2025.

Ivanova, N. & McGinley, M. (2025). Creative Leadership Masterclass. Executive Education: Masterclass. Royal College of Art. London, UK. 10-11 April 2025.

Ivanova, N. and Dowd, M. (2023). Stronger Communications. [Design sprint]. Northumbrian Water Innovation Festival. Newcastle, UK. 11-14 July 2023.

Gheerawo, R. & Ivanova, N. (2023). Creative Leadership Masterclass. Executive Education: Masterclass. Royal College of Art. London, UK. 23-24 March 2023.

Gheerawo, R. & Ivanova, N. (2023). Creative Leadership Masterclass. Executive Education: Masterclass. Royal College of Art. London, UK. 14-15 September 2022.

Gheerawo, R., Ivanova, N. & Flory, M. (2022). Creative Leadership in Practice: An Overview. Custom Masterclass for TAMA Art University. Japan [Online]. 7 September 2022.

Ivanova, N. and Gheerawo, R. (2022). Better Bills. [Design sprint]. Northumbrian Water Innovation Festival. Newcastle, UK. 12-15 July 2022.

Ivanova, N. (2020). Creative Leadership in research and career-development. [Workshop for LDoc PhD cohort, online]. Royal College of Art, 25 June 2020.

Gheerawo, R. & Ivanova, N. (2020). Creative Leadership. Executive Education: Masterclass. [Online]. Royal College of Art, London, 26-28 October 2020.

Ivanova, N. (2020). Creative Leadership in personal and collaborative practice. Two-part workshop for the 20/21 RCA MRes cohort. Royal College of Art. 2 & 9 October 2020.

Gheerawo, R. & Ivanova, N. (2020). Masterclass: Open Sourcing Leadership. Knowledge of Design Week. [Online]. Hong Kong Design Centre. 16 August 2020.

Ivanova, N. (2020). Creative Leadership in research and career-development. Workshop for LDoc PhD cohort. [Online] Royal College of Art. 25 June 2020.

Ivanova, N. (2020). Presentation & Communication Skills. Two-part workshop for the 19/20 RCA MRes cohort. [Online]. Royal College of Art. 27 April & 4 May 2020.

Gheerawo, R. & Ivanova, N. (2019). Creative Leadership. Executive Education: Masterclass. Royal College of Art, London. 28–29 November 2019.

Flory, M. & Ivanova, N. (2019). Creative Imagination and Emotional Intelligence. Unexpected Interludes by Open Platform. [Workshop]. Wellcome Collection. London, UK. 14 November 2019.

Flory, M. & Ivanova, N. (2019). Imagination and Emotion: the role of emotions in daily productivity and creativity. Wellcome Reading Room: Open Platform. [Workshop]. Wellcome Collection. London, UK. 10 October 2019.

Gheerawo, R., McGinley, C. & Ivanova, N. (2019). Wellbeing and Robotics. A five-day bespoke innovation workshop for a Japanese technology company. Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design, Royal College of Art. London, UK. 10–13 June 2019.

Gheerawo, R. & Ivanova, N. (2019). Creative Leadership. Executive Education: Masterclass. Royal College of Art. London, UK. 20-21 May 2019.

Gheerawo, R., Ivanova, N. & Gadzheva, I. (2019). Creative Leadership. Executive Education for client account managers of a large multi-national technology company. Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design, Royal College of Art. London, UK. 15 February 2019.

Gheerawo, R. & Ivanova, N. (2019). Design Thinking and Design Doing. Innovation for All 2018. DOGA. Oslo, Norway. 7-8 June 2018.

Jakob, A., Collier, L. & Ivanova, N. (2017). Sensory Design. Workshop facilitation to explore multi-sensory experiences and co-design ideas for a new sensory room to be set up in a dementia ward. Coombe Hill Manor. Kingston upon Thames, UK. 28 September 2017.

Ivanova, N. (2015). The T-probe. Climate Change – Designing for a New Reality. Inside Out Festival. OXO Tower. London, UK. 23 October 2015.

Ivanova, N. (2015). The Biology of Fashion: How can biological organisms inspire new materials and processes for fashion fabrication?’ Science Behind Fashion: An educational event for schools organised by the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Galashiels Academy, Scotland. 19–20 February 2015.

Ivanova, N. (2014). A Shared Space Through Fashion. Acquired Deafblindness Network Conference: Life, Love, Laughter. AdbN 2014. Belfast, Ireland. 4–5 November 2014.

Curated events

Ivanova, N. & Ramster, G. (2025). Design.Different Showcase and Magazine Launch. Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design, Royal College of Art. London, UK. 25 November 2025.

Ivanova, N., Gheerawo, R., Flory, M., O'Rorke, L., Wyse, D., Müller, L.-M. & Gu, Q. (2021). Forum on the Future of Education: Creative Leadership in Schools. [Workshop]. Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design, Royal College of Art. London, UK. 15 April 2021.

Ivanova, N. (2020). Inclusive Design: Business Value and Pathways. Design.Different: A Week of Inclusive Design Events. [Webinar]. Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design, Royal College of Art. London, UK. 15 October 2020.

Gheerawo, R. Ivanova, N. (2020). Creative Leaders Circle: A call to action. Design.Different: A Week of Inclusive Design Events. [Webinar]. Royal College of Art, 16 October 2020.

Thopte, I. & Ivanova, N. (2017). Storytelling and Emotion. Centre for Fashion Enterprise FashTech Meetup 11. Plexal, Here East. London, UK. 29 June 2017.

Thopte, I. & Ivanova, N. (2017). Fashioning Sensory Tech. Centre for Fashion Enterprise FashTech Meetup 10. Interchange Triangle. London, UK. 27 April 2017.

Thopte, I. & Ivanova, N. (2017). Rediscovering Sustainability. Centre for Fashion Enterprise FashTech Meetup 9. Interchange Triangle. London, UK. 26 January 2017.

Ivanova, N., Wildgoose, J., Sabbagh, S., Al-Shomely, K., Ungley, P. (2013). Craftsmanship Reconsidered: framing, coding, cutting and unveiling. Lecture series sponsored by the Visual and Material Culture Research Centre and the Modern Interiors Research Centre. [Lecture Series]. Kingston University London. London, UK. April – May 2013.

Ivanova, N. & Dowd, K. (2012). Reconfigurations: crafting design research. Exhibition at the Platform Gallery. Kingston University London. London, UK. November 2012.

Exhibitions

(2023 – present) ‘MYCELIUM + TIMBER’ in Design Changes Materials We Use. Young V&A. London, UK.

(27 May – 29 October 2023) ‘MYCELIUM + TIMBER’ in The Spirit of Invention. National Archives, Kew. London, UK.

(16-29 September 2021) ‘MYCELIUM + TIMBER’ in MYCOTA. London Design Festival (LDF) 2021, UK.

(30 January - 26 April 2020) ‘MYCELIUM + TIMBER’ in Mushrooms: The Art, Design and Future of Fungi. Somerset House. London, UK.

(19 November 2019 – 29 March 2020) ‘MYCELIUM + TIMBER’ in Future and the Arts: AI, Robotics, Cities, Life - How Humanity Will Live Tomorrow. Mori Art Museum. Tokyo, Japan.

(19 – 22 September 2019) ‘The Emo-T Global Wall’ in Design Research for Change Showcase. London Design Festival, UK.

(18 – 24 September 2017) ‘MYCELIUM + TIMBER’ in Design Frontiers. London Design Festival. UK.

(9 – 14 February 2016) ‘Mould Perceptions’, in WEAREABLE2016. La Gaîté Lyrique. Paris, France.

(1 March 2012) ‘The Sustainable Luxury Project’ by InCrops. Institute of Materials Minerals and Mining. London, UK.

(16 September 2011) ‘Moulded Mind’, Installation. Vauxhall Fashion Scout, London Fashion Week. Freemasons’ Hall, London, UK.

Press: BBC, Reuters, Dezeen, The Financial Times, The Times, Scientific American, New Scientist, National Geographic.

External collaborations

(2026 - present) Member, RCA Creative Intelligence Exchange Hub
(2025 - present) Co-Chair, RCA Research Ethics Network
(2025 - present) Member, RCA EDI working group (RKEI)
(2025 - present) Member, RCA Community Engagement Network
(2024 - 2025) Peer-reviewer, The Design Journal
(2024) Peer-reviewer, CUMULUS Budapest
(2023 - present) Reviewer, RCA Ethics & Research Integrity
(2022 - present) Innovation Ambassador, Northumbrian Water Group
(2022) Academic co-lead & Peer-reviewer, INCLUDE 2022
(2022 - present) Peer-reviewer and Track Co-chair, Design Management Institute
(2022 - 2023) Peer-review, Architectural Science Review
(2021 - present) Fellow of the Royal Society for the Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce (RSA)
(2021 - present) Member & peer-reviewer, Design Research Society

Run Zhu

Current

Dr Ninela Ivanova