Khipra Nichols
Curriculum Vitale
(a) Professional Preparation
Institution
Rhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design
Major
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Bachelor of Industrial Design
Degree and Year
B.F.A. 1973-1977
B.I.D. 1977-1978
(b) Academic Appointments
Industrial Design Graduate Program Director, Rhode Island School of Design, 2009 – 2012
Department Head, Rhode Island School of Design, Department of Industrial Design, 1999-2004
Associate Professor, Department of Industrial Design, Rhode Island School of Design, 1999-present
Assistant Professor, Rhode Island School of Design, Department of Industrial Design, 1997-1998
(c) Professional Activities
Design Director, Playskool Baby, division of Hasbro, Inc. I Managed the Design Team responsible for
creating infant product lines including feeding, health and safety, soothing, parent aids and toys. 1989-1998
Product Designer, Playskool Inc, Hasbro, Inc.1985-1989 Research and Development responsibilities for
preschool and infant toys, 1985-1989
Product Designer, Hasbro Inc, Product research and development responsibilities for Preschool, Boys and
Girls toy lines including Mr. Potato Head and My Little Pony, 1978-1985
Khipra Nichols Design LLC., Established July 2008
Awarded The Davis Fellowship Grant for my ongoing research in the area of exploring the intersection of
Design Thinking and Contemplative Practice.
Innovation Workshop; created and conducted for The Tokyo School of Bicycle Design, Nasu Japan, June
2014
Visiting Professor, Strate College, Paris France, April 2007
Designer in Residence, Brown University School of Engineering, 2004 - 2005
Founder, eMotive Vehicle Design and Development Group, Co-creating design for alternative energy
motorcycle geared toward developing countries, 2003-2010
Design Director, Toys for Rehabilitation, Conducted research leading to development of four toys that aid
the physical therapy used on children with cerebral palsy, 2007-2008
Design Consultant for Professor David Sobel, Brown University, Cognition and Linguistics Department. I
Created a set of nine “Stimulus Toys,” research pertains to toddler and infant cognition, 2006-2007
Client- Up Country Pet Products, invented and designed the Henley Tag Holder, and several other
products from 2003-present
Client- Tasco Corp, design of new product for their Hearing Protection line 2012 – 2013.
Client- CleanBrand Inc. I created a device called the Zip n Click, which fits on the zipper of their mattress
cover and pillowcase to prevent bed bug infestation. 2011-2012
Car Body Designer, Nucleus Scientific, designed car body exterior and interior for a patented
prototype electric vehicle, 2008-2009
Concept Development, “The Gift of Cool,” Wheelchair Design Competition and concept for network
television, 2003
Consultant Design Director, Sponsored Apprenticeships, co-directed a group of eleven Rhode Island
School of Design student design apprentices working with Steelcase, Conair, CIMIT and APC in the design
of concepts and prototypes, Summer 2004
Innovation Workshop Leader for Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Conducted a series brainstorming sessions for
an interdisciplinary group of product developers, chemists, and engineers in their lawn care division, 2000
Design Director/ Mentor, Advised student at National Institute of Design, India to develop a portable
telemedical Unit for Dr. John Coleman principal of Mediteq. 2002-2003
Design Consultant, Weird Wire, Created a line of new low energy, low cost neon signs, 2001-2003
Consultant Designer, Designed several die cast vehicles for the Sesame St. License with Tyco, 1998-1999
Display Designer, point-of-purchase display for the book “The Wings of Joy” by Sri Chinmoy, 1999
Stage Set Designer, Design and construction a set for several public events, including The Peace Concert
in honor of the 50th Anniversary of the United Nations, October 1997
(d) Collaborator and Other Affiliations
Co-created the Shoe Design in Italy travel course with Kathleen Grevers
Co authored the article From Raw Material To The Finished Product with RISD Professors Anais Missakian, and
Liliane Wong
Vehicle Design for Ian Hunter (MIT, Nucleus Scientific)
Toys for Rehabilitation with Dr. Joseph Crisco (Brown University), Dr. Karen Kerman (Hasbro
Children’s Hospital), David Durfee (Bay Computing),
Designed and built Toys for Research for Dr. David Sobel’s research on causation in toddlers (Brown
University),
Emotive Vehicle Project with professors Michael Lye (Rhode Island School of Design), Chris Bull (Brown
University)
(e) Community Service

Helped sponsor and install a statue of Peace Run visionary, Sri Chinmoy in Roger Williams Park, Providence RI,
April 2011.

Taught free Meditation Workshops in New York in March 2010 -2014

Rhode Island Coordinator for the Peace Run 1987 – 2012

Instructed free meditation classes in RI Public Libraries from 1980-2014