Wednesday Research Seminar Series - Designing a campus installation that addresses the university’s commitment towards sustainability

We are pleased to invite you to our Wednesday Research Seminar. It will be held in-person on 12th March at Study District 2. Wednesday Research Seminar Series was launched in 2008 and has featured more than 365 presentations to date. The seminars provide a forum for researchers to share their work. Presenters include faculty from Middlesex University Dubai and other universities in the United Arab Emirates, as well as researchers from other global institutions. Kanaka will present her work on:

“Designing a campus installation that addresses the university’s commitment towards sustainability”
Kanaka Raghavan

Abstract

Public installations have proven to be effective in raising awareness about various social and environmental issues. Research shows that interactive art installations in particular, can deepen public understanding of complex concepts such as carbon neutrality and light pollution by offering immersive experiences that evoke emotional engagement and encourage conceptual thinking. Similarly, campus public sculptures can shape institutional identity and can influence the university atmosphere. There is also evidence that public installations hold significant potential as tools for environmental education and public engagement. This research seminar will explore the creative process behind designing an installation that embodies the university’s dedication to tackling climate change. It will showcase how each stage of the design process, from initial concept to construction, thoughtfully considers environmental impact, including key elements such as material selection and structural mechanics. The installation aims to engage students, faculty, and external stakeholders (schools, outreach and media outlets) in collective action while encouraging them to recognise their role in promoting sustainable practices.

Presenter Bios

Kanaka Raghavan is a Senior Lecturer at Middlesex University Dubai, where she also serves as the Assistant Programme Coordinator for the undergraduate Graphic Design programme. Her research focuses on decolonising design practice, rethinking design education, and exploring methods to create impactful work from a non-Eurocentric standpoint. Kanaka has designed and led various architecture and design projects in Barcelona, including an installation for a restaurant at the Moritz brewery, restored by Jean Nouvel, and a book launch installation for A World of Ice and Fire, Game of Thrones at a prominent Barcelona-based publishing house. Her published works also include a children's book in Spanish, “August, Guillem y Conrad”, which she illustrated and co-authored. Kanaka’s work has been showcased across a variety of exhibitions, including Tasmeem 2024, and the international ‘Type for Kindness’ exhibitions held in Spain and Indonesia. In 2023, she achieved a Merit as a tutor by the prestigious International Society of Typographic Designers (ISTD), recognising her contributions to typography education. Kanaka holds an M.Sc. in Advanced Design and Digital Architecture (ADDA) from ELISAVA in Barcelona, Spain, and has completed executive courses in Typography and Editorial Design at the Royal College of Art in London. She is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of the Arts London (UAL).