This interview was recorded on the sidelines of the 2025 Design Research Society Special Interest Group Learn by Design conference, held at the University of Aveiro, as part of the activities of the UNIDCOM research centre.

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In this interview Emília Duarte talks to Sucharita Beniwal, a textile designer and design researcher whose work explores creativity in resource-constrained and marginalized communities. After a decade in the textile industry, she transitioned into academia through social design, focusing on ethnographic and field-based research. Her current research investigates repair practices, informal economies, and embodied knowledge in making. She teaches critically reflective courses that challenge students to engage ethically with cultural heritage and indigenous practices.

In this episode, Sucharita shares her journey from textile design to social design research, exploring creativity in resource-constrained communities. She discusses her work on repair practices, informal economies, and embodied knowledge in making. Her teaching challenges students to critically engage with cultural heritage and positionality. The conversation highlights the importance of values, co-design, and ethical engagement with marginalized communities.