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Biography

Paul is not a designer. He is interested in design as a cultural practice. Paul's primary interests are in the impact of the sustainability agenda on the theory and practice of design, and emerging modes of design practice such as social innovation and open design. He developed social research capabilities while investigating the research question 'What is design?' for PhD (completed 2002). He teaches, writes, supervises research students, and undertakes research and knowledge transfer projects across a wide range of areas within contemporary design practice.

Paul collaborates with sustainability-led design companies and manufacturers on knowledge transfer and research projects, for example Remarkable Pencils Ltd. and Greenworks. Project funders have included DTI / TSB, British Council Korea, British Council China, ERDF, HEIF II, London Remade. He has also organised and chaired design research dissemination events and 'sustainable design' and 'sustainable business' training events for the design professions.
Paul edited the 2009 and 2010 issues of KIOSK, the Faculty's annual publication of art, design and architecture.

Related links

• Twitter: @micklethwaite
• The Ecology, Environment, Culture Network
• Kingston University Ecobuild website
• Kingston University 'Find an expert'

Research expertise

Research interests and expertise:
Design for Sustainability
Design for Development
Design Studies
Sustainability and Design History
Research Ethics in Art & Design

Selected key research outputs:
Chick, A. & Micklethwaite, P. (2011) Design for Sustainable Change: How design and designers can drive the sustainability agenda. AVA Academia.
Massey, A. & Micklethwaite, P. (2009) Unsustainability: towards a new design history, with reference to British Utility. Design Philosophy Papers, Issue 2 (Design History Futures - Part 1), October.
Micklethwaite, P. & Chick, A. (2005) Remarkable Pencils Ltd: Breaking out of the green niche. Design Management Review, 16 (3) Summer.
Micklethwaite, P. (2005) Discussing art and design education: themes from interviews with UK design stakeholders. International Journal of Art & Design Education, 24 (1), Spring.
Chick, A. & Micklethwaite, P. (2004) Specifying recycled: understanding UK architects' and designers' practices and experience. Design Studies, 25 (3), pp 251-273.

Teaching areas & responsibilities

Course Director - MA Sustainable Design
Design School PhD Director

Professional activity

• 2012 - presentMember, Faculty Research Ethics Committee, Kingston University
• 2011External Examiner, Professional Doctorate (Design), University of Northumbria
• 2007 - presentEPSRC, Peer Reviewer of Research Bids
• 2007 - 2012Chair, Faculty Research Ethics Committee, Kingston University
• 2006 - presentAHRC, Peer Reviewer of Research Bids

Educational and professional qualifications

• 2002PhD, Department of Design University of Huddersfield
• 2001PGCert Social Research & Evaluation University of Huddersfield
• 1997MA Innovation Studies University of Huddersfield
• 1995BA(Hons) Philosophy / English University of York

Conferences & events

Invited addresses:
May 2012: Invited speaker, The Ecology, Environment, Culture Network Symposium, Trondheim, Norway
Oct. 2010: 'Embedding Sustainability in Curricula, A Teaching and Learning Conference', Plymouth College of Art
Jan. 2008: Keynote presentation. UK-China Low Carbon Production & Green Consumption Forum, Chongqing, China.
Jan. 2008: Invited lecture, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China.
Jan. 2008: Invited lecture, Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, Chongqing, China.

Conference abstract reviewer:
Sep. 2011: 'Making Futures II: The Crafts as Change Maker in Sustainably Aware Cultures', Plymouth College of Art
Sep. 2011: 'Design Activism and Social Change', Design History Society annual conference, Barcelona.
Sep. 2009: 'Making Futures: The crafts in the context of emerging global sustainability agendas', Plymouth College of Art
Jul. 2008: 'Undisciplined!', Design Research Society Conference, Sheffield Hallam University.
Jul. 2008: 'Changing the Change: An international conference on the role and potential of design research in the transition towards sustainability', Turin

Consultancy

Green Growth Business Development Bootcamps (2011). Funder: Capital Enterprise Ltd. Role: Co-development and delivery of a series of 3 half-day events for start-ups in London's green economy.

Ecobuild (2011, 2012) Role: Project manager / coordinator of Kingston University stands.

"Increasing the sustainability of contract and office furniture manufacture and supply" (2006-08). Funder: DTI Technology Programme. Partners: British Furniture Manufacturers Ltd., Greenworks. Role: Leader of two work packages, on Product Service Systems and Green rebranding.

Green Growth seminar series (2006). Delivered as part of the KU / London Remade partnership project 'Inspired Recycling' (2004-06). Funder: ERDF. Role: Co-development and delivery of a series of 6 full-day events for start-ups in London's green economy.

"Inspired Recycling" (2004-06). A KU / London Remade knowledge exchange partnership project, funded by ERDF. Role: Project officer and enterprise case manager.

Remarkable Pencils Ltd (2003) A knowledge exchange / research project to develop 'green' rebranding strategy. Funder: Landfill Tax Credit Scheme. Partners: Dragon Brands. Role: Research assistant.

Research groups & programmes

• Design Research

Research supervision

• Mike Crossman
• Kevin Dowd

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Publications