Kathrina Dankl

Research areas

Kathrina has a degree in Industrial Design and a PhD in Design Anthropology. Her doctoral research Very Experienced People: An Ethnography of Design, Ageing and Style (2011), was supervised by Prof. Alison Clarke, Universiy of Applied Arts Vienna and Prof. Jeremy Myerson, Royal College of Art London. Her research interests focus on Design Anthropology, Welfare Design, Ageing, Inclusive Design, Design Methods and Social Innovation. Kathrina divides her time between Kolding and Vienna, where she leads her own design consultancy Studio Dankl. Her publications include edited volumes such as Design Diversity (2014) and journal papers in The Design Journal (2013) and The Design Studies (2017).

Curriculum vitae

Academic Education

2006- 2011           Design Anthropology, Dr. phil, with distinction, University of applied Arts Vienna

Very Experienced People: An Ethnography on Design, Ageing and Style

Supervisor: Univ. Prof. Alison J. Clarke PhD. MA (RCA) University of applied Art Vienna

External Examiner: Prof. Jeremy Myerson, Director HHDC, Royal College of Art London, UK

1999 - 2003          Industrial Design, DI (FH), with distinction, University of applied Science Graz

Academic Posts Held

Since 2017            Associate Professor, Design School Kolding, Research and cross-disciplinary teaching in the field of welfare design and design methods

2014 -  2017          Assistant Professor, Design School Kolding, Research and cross-disciplinary teaching in the field of welfare design and design methods

2014 - 2015           Lecturer:University of Applied Arts Vienna, Courses in Welfare Design: ‘How things don’t work – Design and Ethnography in Practice’, ‘Reload my Pharmacy’, ‘Health 2051’ (Prof. Fiona Raby)

2010 - 2014          Lecturer:Technical University Vienna, design and delivery of courses on sustainable design

2009 - 2012          Junior Scientist: University of Applied Art Vienna, Design History and Theory Department

Design researcher in the collaborative arts and science project “Doing kinship with pictures and objects: a laboratory for private and public practices of art”

2005 – 2009          Academic Research Assistant:University of Applied Art Vienna, Design History and Theory Department Support of departmental research projects in the field of design anthropology and material culture studies

Design Posts Held

2012 - now           Director, Studio Dankl, Vienna, Austria

Award winning design consultancy, with a distinct fusion of theory and practice, including services, conceptual products, installations, space interventions and publications.

2006 - 2012          Co-Founder, danklhampel, Vienna, Austria

Design studio based in Vienna with a wide range of projects in product design and research.

Awards/Fellowships (selection)

2009                      ‘Best Conference Paper’, Include 2009, Royal College of Art, London, UK

2009                      Index Award Nomination, DEN

2010                      Research Fellowship by University of Applied Arts for dissertation research RCA/UCL

2005                      Award for Innovation und Marketability, Federal Ministry of Innovation, AUT

2003                      First Prize, Moving Emotion Award, Magna Steyr, AUT

Exhibitions (selection)

2017                      »Vienna Biennale 2017«, Vienna, 2017, AT

2014                      »Design Discourse: Austria – South Africa«, Cape Town, 2014, AFS

2013                      »Progetto Cibo. La Forma del Gusto«, Mart Rovereto, Rovereto IT

2012                      »Familymakers:  Capturing, Connecting, Divesting«, Museum für Volkskunde, Vienna, AUT

2009                      »Crowned Jam Jars«, Salone Satellite, Milan, IT

2009                      »Spot on Wien – Flashing Austrian Design«, 100% Tokyo’, Tokyo, JP

Positions in Scientific Boards and Associations

2015 – 2018          Advisory Board of project “The flow of things or private property?” University Münster, DE

2015                      SIDeR, 11th Design Research Conference (Conference Reviewer)

2013                      Include Conference, International Review Committee (Conference Reviewer)

2011                      Include Conference, International Review Committee (Conference Reviewer)

Funded Projects

LESS! Sustainable Product-Service Design, Departure 2013-2015, Departure, Creative Industries Funding Agency Vienna; project on design thinking and new service design concepts; Role Kathrina Dankl: project lead

Grant awarded: 139.000€

LiveEOG, Inclusive Design of a multi-purpose device, 2012-2014, national consortium of eight universities and business partners, funded by the Austrian Funding Agency. Role Kathrina Dankl: partner

Grant awared: 477.000€

Doing kinship with pictures and objects: a laboratory of private and public practices of art

Arts and Science Collaborative Project (WWTF), 2009-2012, Lead: Elisabeth Timm; Role Kathrina Dankl: designer

Design für 60+,Departure 2007-2010, Departure, Creative Industries Funding Agency Vienna, Role Kathrina Dankl: project lead, Grant awarded: 78.000€

Name and institution of key international cooperation partners in the last five years

Helen Hamlyn Research Centre for Design, Royal College of Art London

Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster/Department for European Ethnology

University of Applied Arts Vienna, Department of Design History and Theory

Museum of Applied Arts Vienna

Museum Wagner:Werk Vienna