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Vicki Thomas

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Vicki Thomas

Mrs

 https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3973-9649
19992023

Research activity per year

Personal profile

Teaching Interests

Vicki Thomas retured form teaching in May 2023. Her main focus was teaching design history and dissertation supervision but she also has experience teaching professional practice and business planning on the BA (Hons) Illustration programme.

Thomas’ collaborative Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, research and private design practice exposes her students to current production developments and new technologies in the design industry.

Research Interests

Thomas’ wide research interests are linked through her focus on design networks and exchange processes. Thomas collaborated on a series Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) that have had a direct impact on the lives of others – including her KTP work with palliative care charity Sue Ryder Care – and on providing employment opportunities, including an award-winning KTP Associate.

She established the research Centre for Sustainable Futures before retiring. When she was invited back as Research Fellow in CSF she focused on setting up the Toy  & Play Sustainability Hub in 2024. 

Biography

From an academic background in Sociology and Design History, Thomas taught on the BSc Product Design and BA Interior Design programmes. Understanding the social and historical context of design practice is a core principle of Thomas’ courses. As a practicing designer, Thomas’ students benefit from her industry experience and her knowledge of current design practice and technologies.

Thomas has used the University's specialist Osborne Robinson Poster Collection in her teaching and has also drawn on its resources for research and publication in order to secure the Collection as resource for future students and researchers.  

The KTP's  with toy companies led to a serive of exhibitions and publications about toy history and play links to creativity. The the formation of Sustainable Futures and ehe Toy & Play Hub.

Since retiring she has returned to her research linked to the gift exchange process.  In order to celebrate the centenary of publication of Marcel Mauss essay on The Gift  in the UK - she has organised a series of events and exhibitions throughout 2025.

 

Education/Academic qualification

Bachelor, BSc Sociology, London School of Ecnomics & Politcal Sciences

Master, History of Design, Royal College of Art/V&A Museum - (Gifts; The Design Role in Commercialisation of Gift Exchange), Royal College of Art

Income Generation and Tendering, PG Cert, University of Northampton

External positions

Consultant, Vicki Thomas Associates - Gift Design Consultancy

31 Dec 1984 → …

Keywords

  • HM Sociology
  • NK Decorative arts Applied arts Decoration and ornament
  • TS Manufactures

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  1. SDG 5 - Gender Equality
    SDG 5 Gender Equality
  2. SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
    SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
  3. SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals
    SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals

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