Mala Siamptani

Biography

Dr Mala Siamptani is a design researcher and practitioner whose work investigates the intersection of material culture, craft knowledge, and emerging digital technologies within jewellery, fashion, and object design. She holds two Master’s degrees and a PhD, and is based in East London, where she runs a studio focused on research-led design and the production of sculptural and wearable artefacts. Her practice is underpinned by extensive material experimentation and explores “phygital” processes that bridge traditional craft techniques with digital and augmented technologies. Mala’s research has been disseminated through peer-reviewed journals, edited volumes, and international conferences, and her design work has been exhibited across Europe, Australia, and the UK. As a Senior Lecturer in Jewellery Design, she delivers research-informed teaching on experimental making, professional practice, and the future of material culture. Through both scholarly inquiry and practice-based research, her work advocates for the recognition of experiential and material knowledge as critical to advancing contemporary craft and design practice.