Our Academic Advisory Board 2023-24
We are immensely grateful for the invaluable contributions of our esteemed Academic Advisory Board (AAB) members who served during the 2023-24 period. As our inaugural AAB cohort, they played an instrumental role in setting the foundation for our advisory board, elevating its significance and impact within our academic community. Their unwavering dedication, expertise, and active participation in discussions and deliberations have been invaluable in shaping the trajectory of our programs. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to each member for their commitment to excellence and their role in advancing our mission of providing exceptional design education. As their tenure concludes, we honor their legacy and the indelible mark they've left on our institution.
Dr. Anuradha Chatterjee
Chairperson - Academic Advisory Board
Architect Biju Kuriakose
Member - Academic Advisory Board
Professor Catherine Harper
Member - Academic Advisory Board
Professor Filomena Melina Visone
Member - Academic Advisory Board
Professor Nijoo Dubey
Member - Academic Advisory Board
Professor Pratyush Shankar
Member - Academic Advisory Board
Professor Suzie Attiwill
Member - Academic Advisory Board
Our Academic Advisory Board
Dr. Anuradha Chatterjee
Chairperson - Academic Advisory Board
Dr. Anuradha Chatterjee is an accomplished academic practitioner in architecture and design, registered as an architect in India and an Associate of the Australian Institute of Architects, NSW Chapter. She holds a M. Arch and a PhD from the University of New South Wales, Australia and is currently based in Sydney, Australia. With over 20 years of extensive work experience in research, teaching, and administrative responsibilities, Dr. Chatterjee has held leadership positions and taught at prestigious universities in China, Australia, and India.
As the former Dean of the Faculty of Design at Manipal University in Jaipur, the Dean of Academics at the Avani Institute of Design, and the Head of Research and Innovation at Pearl Academy, Dr. Chatterjee was responsible for establishing academic excellence cultures, expanding internationalisation efforts, enhancing research outputs, and fostering high-performance cultures based on inclusive and embodied leadership. Her commitment to academic excellence is also reflected in her current roles as a member of the Academic Council KRVIA (since 2021) and a former member of the CEPT Board of Review. (2019-2022).
Dr. Chatterjee's expertise extends beyond academia and into the professional realm, having worked for PTW Architects and Cracknell and Lonergan Architects in Australia, where she successfully managed bids for Heritage Impact Assessments and Conservation Management Plans for public and private clients. Dr. Chatterjee's contributions to the field of architecture and design go beyond her impressive professional and academic experience. She is a fervent supporter of social concerns such as gender equality, mental health in architecture, and climate change. She has also edited and written three highly regarded academic books and is the Regional Editor at the Taylor and Francis Journal TEXTILE: CLOTH AND CULTURE. In 2022, she was the winner of the AMPS ROUTLEDGE PEDAGOGY AWARD. Her research history is diverse, and her publications reflect a broad range of research inquiry.
For further information on Dr. Chatterjee's academic practice record, please visit her website or LinkedIn profile.
Website: Research and Teaching Practice Record
LinkedIn: View Profile
Our Academic Advisory Board
Architect Biju Kuriakose
Member - Academic Advisory Board
Architect Biju Kuriakose is an Indian architect based in Chennai, India. After completing his undergraduate degree in architecture in Mumbai, he pursued his master's degree in architecture and urban planning from the prestigious Pratt Institute in New York. In 2008, Biju co-founded ArchitectureRED, an architecture and urban design firm that is renowned for its exceptional design approach, which centers on the creation of meaningful places that foster a sense of community and facilitate the expression of identities.
Currently, ArchitectureRED is engaged in the planning of public spaces and pedestrian-friendly streets for the Corporation of Chennai, as well as designing mixed-use developments in Tamil Nadu and Salalah, Oman, including a master plan for a new 150-acre mixed-use complex in Panvel, Navi Mumbai. ArchitectureRED is also actively designing housing complexes of various sizes in Chennai, Bangalore, and Trivandrum, as well as constructing a number of institutional buildings for the Crescent and Hindustan Universities in Chennai.
ArchitectureRED has won numerous national and international design awards, including the IIA National Award in 2016 for 'Airport city' in Oman, and the World Architecture News Award in 2009 for the 'Best Urban Design Project' for the master plan of Nordhavnen in Copenhagen, which was created in partnership with FXFOWLE Architects, NY. The firm also received the IIA TN state award for the best institutional project in 2021 for the 'School project in Bangalore'. In 2022, ArchitectureRED won the national design competition held by the Council of Architecture to create the new Centre of Excellence for the community of architects inside Bangalore University.
Before founding ArchitectureRED, Biju worked as an Associate at FXFOWLE Architects, a leading architectural, planning, and urban design practice based in New York. He is also a founding member of The Hashtag# Collective, a forum that investigates multidisciplinary interventions, tentative ideas, and site-specific installations at locations with high pedestrian traffic.
Biju's vast experience and exceptional design sensibility have led him to become a highly sought-after lecturer and studio critic. He has spoken at numerous important forums, including the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance in New York, Pratt Institute, and Columbia University in New York. Biju was also a part of the 2017 Goethe Institute Visitors Program in Germany, where he examined water-related issues and researched how water affects communities. Since 2018, he has been a member of the CEPT University, Ahmedabad, Board of Review. Currently, he is an external studio critic at Anna University's School of Architecture and Planning in Chennai.
To know more about Biju Kuriakose and ArchitectureRED, please click on the links below:
Instagram: architectureRED (@studioarchitecturered)
LinkedIn: View Profile
Our Academic Advisory Board
Professor Catherine Harper
Member - Academic Advisory Board
Professor Catherine Harper is a distinguished scholar with a Honours Degree from the University of Ulster, an MA from Goldsmiths College, a PhD in Composite Design for Mechanical Engineering from the University of Ulster, and a PG Cert in HE Teaching & Learning from the University of the Arts, London. She has held significant academic leadership positions at large multi-faculty and specialised universities, including the University of Chichester (2016-20) and University for the Creative Arts (2020-22) as Deputy Vice-Chancellor. Prof Harper is a firm believer in education for social transformation, cross-cultural understanding, justice, and tolerance, and she is inspired by the pursuit and application of knowledge that has a tangible and long-lasting impact on the world. She serves as a Non-Executive Director on the Board of Directors for the Institute for Educational & Social Equity.
Since 2011, Prof Harper has been a professor of textiles, and in 2022, the Catherine Harper Textile Lab was established at Woxsen University in Hyderabad, India. Currently, she is a higher education consultant for the Office of the Provost at The British University in Egypt in Cairo. Prof Harper has been the Editor-in-Chief of the Taylor & Francis academic magazine TEXTILE: Cloth & Culture since 2004. She has also completed two essays for the multi-volume Bloomsbury Encyclopedia of World Textiles and an essay titled Textiles from Cradle to Grave for the 4th Hangzhou Triennial of Fiber Art in China, both of which are scheduled for publication in 2023.
Prof Catherine Harper is dedicated to higher education that promotes social justice, fosters individual empowerment, creates inquisitive citizens, makes a significant contribution to local economies, cultures, and places, develops graduates with a global mindset, and ultimately results in the happiness and fulfillment of staff, students, and stakeholders. To learn more about Prof Catherine Harper, please visit her Twitter and LinkedIn profiles.
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Our Academic Advisory Board
Professor Filomena Melina Visone
Member - Academic Advisory Board
Professor Filomena Melina Visone, a native of southern Italy, has a profound connection with culture, the natural world, and the intangible aspects of light and shadow. She holds a Master's degree in Architecture from Florence, Italy and is a proficient and certified architect and interior designer with nearly 25 years of professional experience.
During her career, Prof Filomena has worked as an architect primarily designing homes and stores. She has worked with the renowned and award-winning company, Jim Jennings Architecture in San Francisco, and as an interior designer, she has been involved in developing projects in Cancun, Mexico, and various rehabilitation projects in Italy. She has also worked with Prima Design in Florence for high-end Italian fashion labels, including Ferragamo and Versace.
Initially, Prof Filomena's research focused on the languages of architectural design, particularly lighting and retail design. However, her research has since shifted to sustainability and environmentally friendly design, which led her to enrol in specialised post-graduate courses at Florence University (ABITA one year Master Course) and Klimahouse in Florence and Bozen.
Prof Filomena started her academic teaching career as a teaching assistant for Full Professor Marco Bini while still a student, and it has since become her primary profession, allowing her to grow both professionally and personally. To achieve this goal, she completed a two-year postgraduate course offered by the Ministry of Education, University, and Research (MIUR) and now holds a diploma in teaching Architecture and Interior Design.
Prof Filomena has worked with various institutions, including the FDA, State Art Schools, Polimoda, and the University of Florence, providing her with the opportunity to teach and engage with numerous students from various backgrounds and countries.
In conclusion, Prof Filomena Melina Visone is a distinguished scholar and accomplished professional, dedicated to advancing the fields of architecture and interior design.
To learn more about her, you can visit her LinkedIn profile.
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Our Academic Advisory Board
Professor Nijoo Dubey
Member - Academic Advisory Board
It is with great pleasure that we present Prof Nijoo Dubey, a distinguished member of the academic community and a celebrated designer hailing from India. She currently holds a position as a professor in the Universal Design department of NID Bengaluru, where she imparts her extensive knowledge to aspiring designers.
Prof Dubey is a luminary in her field, with a wealth of experience in designing for businesses and the craft industry. She earned her degree in architecture from the esteemed Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology in Bhopal, India, and subsequently pursued a master's degree in furniture and interior design at the National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad, India.
Over the years, Prof Dubey has shouldered a range of academic responsibilities, from curriculum development and student evaluation to admission and interview procedures, networking with businesses, and student counseling. Her passion for postgraduate foundation studies has grown considerably, and she recently presented a paper on the topic at the India Design Council's Designing Design Education for India Conference.
As a faculty member of NID, Prof Dubey has taught a wide range of subjects in different departments, including Furniture and Interior Design, Product Design, and Design for Retail Experience. Among her favorite courses to teach are Design Process, Form Studies, Color and Form, Research Methodology, Experience/Service Design, Color Material Finish, Human Factors, and Design Projects.
Prof Dubey is an accomplished researcher and designer who has worked with the NID-Asian Paints Colour Research Lab, where she was instrumental in setting up the lab and conducting experiments and research. Her work in this field inspired the creation of some of the nation's first color selection catalogs, and she has presented the results of her research at international conferences hosted by the International Color Association and the International Color Vision Society.
As a testament to her expertise, Prof Dubey has chaired the first Design Research symposium in India, “Insight 2015,” and led workshops on experience design, space design, space trends, visual merchandising, and visual design for clients such as Big Bazaar, Kohler, AIG, and KPMG. She has also held numerous positions within NID, from the Library Committee to Placements and Industry Relations, and has headed educational divisions such as Design for Retail Experience and Universal Design.
Above all, Prof Dubey is an artist at heart, with a keen eye for exquisite detail and a natural talent for the fine arts. She is a firm believer that good design has the power to enrich and enhance every moment of life, and she strives to make the world a more beautiful, kind, and interesting place through her work. To learn more about Prof Nijoo Dubey, please visit her LinkedIn profile.
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Our Academic Advisory Board
Professor Pratyush Shankar
Member - Academic Advisory Board
Professor Pratyush Shankar is a highly esteemed academic fellow and accomplished architect who presently holds the position of Provost at Navrachana University and serves as the Dean of SEDA at the same institution, located in Vadodara, India. He earned his degree in Architecture from M.S. University in Vadodara, India, followed by a PG Diploma from CEPT in Ahmedabad, India. Pratyush Shankar is a Guest Professor in the Mundus Urbano Program at the Architecture Faculty of TU Darmstadt, Germany. He was awarded the Alexander Von Humboldt Fellowship in 2015 and was hosted by the University of Bonn, Germany.
Professor Shankar's career in academia spans several years, during which he taught Urban History and Design at the Faculty of Architecture at CEPT University. In addition to overseeing the undergraduate program, he served as the acting dean of architecture during his tenure at CEPT. Pratyush Shankar was also appointed Director of the Undergraduate Office at CEPT University, where he introduced significant reforms like choice-based learning, flexible curricula, and PG programs based on majors and minors.
Pratyush Shankar is the author of the book 'Himalayan Cities: Settlement Pattern, Public Places, and Architecture,' which was published in 2014 by Niyogi Publishers in New Delhi. His forthcoming book, titled 'History of Urban Form,' is set to be published by Oxford University Press. He has given numerous lectures and public talks on Indian Architecture and Cities across Europe, South East Asia, and India, in addition to writing multiple book chapters and papers. He has received numerous international fellowships and awards for his work in these areas.
Furthermore, Professor Shankar runs an innovative and critical design practice that explores questions of architectural production, particularly with regard to new relationships with nature, ideas of light, and poetics in space. In 2013, he won the JK Cement Architect of the Year award for residential design, and in 2008, he received the Ford Asia fellowship. Additionally, he was named a member of the expert committee of Niti Aayog on 'Hill Architecture and Planning.'
To learn more about Professor Pratyush Shankar, please visit his website at
Website: https://pratyushshankar.com/
Our Academic Advisory Board
Professor Suzie Attiwill
Member - Academic Advisory Board
Professor Suzie Attiwill is a highly accomplished educator and practitioner in the field of interior design. She is a member of the Design Institute of Australia and has held numerous prestigious positions throughout her career. Currently, she is Professor of Interior Design at the School of Architecture and Urban Design at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia. Prof Attiwill’s academic qualifications include a PhD by practice/project titled ‘?interior, practises of interiorization, interior designs’, a Master of Arts (Design) from RMIT University, and Bachelor degrees in Interior Design & Art History with Indian Studies from RMIT University and University of Melbourne respectively. She has also served as the Executive Board Member for International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers from 2020 to 2021.
With over 30 years of experience in the domains of interior design, exhibition design, curatorial work, writing and teaching, Prof Attiwill’s creative practice research focuses on spatial, temporal, and material arrangements that pose questions about the interior and interiority in relation to living, inhabitation, subjectivity, pedagogy, and praxis. She has written book chapters, journal articles, conference presentations, and exhibitions that have been recognized globally for their insightful and innovative perspectives.
Prof Attiwill has held numerous leadership positions at RMIT University, including Deputy Dean for Learning and Teaching from 2013 to 2017 and Associate Dean Interior Design from 2018 to 2021. In addition, she currently oversees the practice research PhD Interior Design cohort in Australia, Europe, and Asia. She also chairs RMIT’s Human Research Ethics Committee.
Prof Attiwill is committed to developing research in the discipline and the significance of its social and cultural contribution. Her recent publications include ‘Interior Designing in the Urban Environment’, ‘Urban Interiors and Interiorities’, ‘A new image for interior and interiority’, and ‘Urban Interiority as Collective Individuation’.
Overall, Professor Suzie Attiwill is an influential figure in the world of interior design and her work is highly regarded both in Australia and internationally.
To learn more about her, please visit her LinkedIn profile.
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