Dr Ninela Ivanova
- Innovation Fellow, Inclusive Design for Business Impact
-
The Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design
Dr Ninela Ivanova is an interdisciplinary designer, researcher, facilitator, and innovation lead.
Over the last decade, she has collaborated with scientists, technologists, and organisations across sectors, to develop novel applications for business innovation and education. At present, she leads the Inclusive Design for Business Impact (IDBI) work of the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design at London’s Royal College of Art. IDBI conducts research, knowledge exchange and executive education projects that use people-centred and inclusive design to enable companies across industry verticals achieve evidence-based impact - both internally for their organisation through strategic innovation and business processes, and externally through products and services.
Ninela has supervised multi-disciplinary teams to deliver inclusive design sprints, co-innovation workshops and scoping studies, with outcomes that include design prototypes and guidelines, innovation roadmaps and technology specs. She has lectured and exhibited her work both nationally and internationally, as well as developing and delivering bespoke executive education. 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 joined the Royal College of Art in January 2018, initially as an LDoc Post-Doctoral Creative Economy Engagement Research Fellow, to grow the evidence-base and delivery of the home-grown Creative Leadership model. This research brought together design and neuroscience to further knowledge and practical applications in areas of personal and organisational transformation, as well as thought leadership projects that holistically address technological, environmental and personal needs and aspirations.
She is a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce (RSA), a member and peer-reviewer for the Design Management Institute and the Design Research Society, a peer-reviewer for the Design Journal & Architectural Science Review, and an Innovation Ambassador for Northumbrian Water Group. Ninela holds a Masters in Fashion Futures and a PhD in Design Research from Kingston School of Art, where she worked with diverse collaborators and participant groups to advance engagement with novel and challenging concepts intersecting materials and sensory experience.
Key details
School, Centre or Area
Research projects
More information
Current and recent projects
Inclusive Design for Business Impact Exploring how can Inclusive Design processes directly impact and influence business and industry.
Creative Leadership A transformational leadership model based on the three human values of Empathy, Clarity and Creativity
Air-Control-Reimagined Using Creative Leadership to create a ‘Gold Standard’ Operations Control Centre for an airline focusing on people, environment and UX. Funder: TATA
Publications, exhibitions, other outcomes
Selected publications
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).
Gheerawo, R., Flory, M. & Ivanova, N. (2020) ‘Creative Leadership: design meets neuroscience to transform leadership’, Proceedings of the 22nd dmi: Academic Design Management Conference (dmi: ADMC2020): Impact the Future by Design, Toronto, Canada (online). Paper accepted for publication in the 2020 dmi:Journal (vol. 15)
Flory, M. & Ivanova, N. (2019) ‘Design meets Neuroscience: Future directions for developing and implementing design probes’, Design Research for Change. Design Museum, London, 11–12 December 2019. In press.
Ivanova, N. (2019) ‘What is CreativeLeadership?’, dmi: review, 30(2), pp.6–8.
Flory, M. & Ivanova, N. (2019) FutureDirections: Design meets Neuroscience dmi: review, 30(2), pp.22–29.
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 discussions
(2020) ‘Fungi for Material Futures’, Tashkeel Live Lecture. Dubai,16 November 2020 (online)
(2020) ‘Inclusivity in Design Research Culture’, Equality, Diverisity and Inclusion in Design Research Culture. Kingston School of Art, 6 July 2020 (online)
(2020) Panellist for #FrameLive: Orgatec x Frame Design Challenge on workplace solutions, 18 June 2020 (online)
Ivanova, N., (2019) ‘Fungi for Material Futures’, Fungi Fest 2019. Hoxton Docks, London, 6 October 2019
Ivanova, N. (2019) ‘Creative Leadership’, Aurora Women in Leadership 1st Summer Symposium. Royal College of Art, London, 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,
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, 13-14 Jul 2017
Ivanova, N.(2015) ‘Fashion Sensorial’, Fashion & the Senses. London College of Fashion, London, 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, 28 October 2014
P Ivanova, N. (2013) ‘Fungi for Textile Futures’, The Arts Foundation: A Trans-Disciplinary Approach to Materials Innovation. Victoria & Albert Museum London, 17 September 2013
Workshop delivery & facilitation
Gheerawo, R. & Ivanova, N. (2020) ‘Creative Leadership’, Executive Education: Masterclass. Royal College of Art, London, 26-28 October 2020 (online)
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 (online)
Gheerawo, R. & Ivanova, N. (2020) ‘Masterclass: Open Sourcing Leadership’, Knowledge of Design Week. Hong Kong Design Centre, 16 August 2020 (online)
Ivanova, N. (2020) ‘Creative Leadership in research and career-development. Workshop for LDoc PhD cohort. Royal College of Art, 25 June 2020 (online)
Ivanova, N. (2020) ‘Presentation & Communication Skills’, Two-part workshop for the 19/20 RCA MRes cohort. Royal College of Art, 27 April & 4 May 2020 (online)
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. Wellcome Collection, London, 14 November 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, 10–13 June 2019
Gheerawo, R. & Ivanova, N. (2019) ‘Creative Leadership’, Executive Education: Masterclass. Royal College of Art, London, 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, 15 February 2019
Gheerawo, R. & Ivanova, N. (2019) ‘Design Thinking and Design Doing’, Innovation for All 2018. DOGA, Oslo, 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, 28 September 2017
Ivanova, N. (2015) ‘The T-probe’, Climate Change – Designing for a New Reality. Inside Out Festival, OXO Tower, London, 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
Exhibitions and showcases
Cox, S. & Ivanova, N. (2020) ‘MYCELIUM + TIMBER’. Mushrooms: The Art, Design and Future of Fungi. Somerset House, London, 30 January - 26 April 2020
Cox, S. & Ivanova, N. (2019) ‘MYCELIUM + TIMBER’. Future and the Arts: AI, Robotics, Cities, Life - How Humanity Will Live Tomorrow. Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan, 19 November 2019 – 29 March 2020
Flory, M. & Ivanova, N. (2019) ‘The Emo-T Global Wall’, Design Research for Change Showcase. London Design Festival, London, 19–22 September 2019
Cox, S. & Ivanova, N. (2017) ‘MYCELIUM + TIMBER’. Design Frontiers. London Design Festival, London, 18–24 September 2017
Ivanova, N. (2016) ‘Mould Perceptions’, WEAREABLE2016. La Gaite Lyrique, Paris, France, 9–14 February 2016
Ivanova, N. (2012) ‘The Sustainable Luxury Project’, InCrops. Institute of Materials Minerals and Mining, London, 1 March 2012
Ivanova, N. & Dowd, K. (2012) ‘Reconfigurations: crafting design research’, Exhibition at the
Platform Gallery. Kingston University London, November 2012
Ivanova, N. (2011) ‘Moulded Mind’, Installation. Vauxhall Fashion Scout, London Fashion Week. Freemasons’ Hall, London, 16 September 2011
Curated events
Ivanova, N. (2020) ‘Inclusive Design: Business Value and Pathways’, Design.Different: A Week of Inclusive Design Events. The Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design, Royal College of Art, 15 October 2020 (online)
Gheerawo, R. & Ivanova, N. (2020) ‘Creative Leaders Circle: A call to Action’, Design.Different: A Week of Inclusive Design Events. Royal College of Art, 16 October 2020 (online)
Thopte, I. & Ivanova, N. (2017) ‘Storytelling and Emotion’, Centre for Fashion Enterprise FashTech Meetup 11. Plexal, Here East, London, 29 June 2017
Thopte, I. & Ivanova, N. (2017) ‘Fashioning Sensory Tech’, Centre for Fashion Enterprise FashTech Meetup 10. Interchange Triangle, London, 27 April 2017
Thopte, I. & Ivanova, N. (2017) ‘Rediscovering Sustainability’. Centre for Fashion Enterprise FashTech Meetup 9. Interchange Triangle, London, 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. Kingston University London, April – May 2013
Ivanova, N. & Dowd, K. (2012) ‘Reconfigurations: crafting design research’, Exhibition at the
Platform Gallery. Kingston University London, November 2012
External collaborations
(2020/21) Aurora: Developing Future Leaders for Higher Education, Advance HE
Women's Development Programme
(2020) Peer-reviewer and track-co chair, 22nd dmi: Academic Design Management
Conference (dmi: ADMC2020)
(2017-present) Honorary Research Fellow, Kingston School of Art, Kingston University London
(2016-present) Design researcher: Mycelium + Timber w/ Sebastian Cox Ltd.
(2014-present) Design consultant, MindRheo
(2014-2016) Art & Design Advisor, British Mycological Society: Fungal Education & Outreach
(2014) Alumna, Design with Scents