Prof B Karthikeyan, Associate Professor, School of Design, is a textile design professional, educator and consultant with over 25 years of experience spanning academic leadership, handloom innovation, craft development and global design practice. His career embodies the belief that fashion and textiles are not just products but cultural, sensorial and economic ecosystems, and that design education must nurture the hand, eye and mind together.

A graduate of the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, with an MDes in Textile Design and a BSc in Industrial Design in Textiles from the Government College of Arts and Crafts, Chennai, his work consistently bridges traditional craft knowledge with contemporary design thinking, market strategy and material research.

Before joining Anant, he was the Head Designer at Lune Line Design Studio, Chennai, which he founded in 2022. Karthikeyan leads design consulting projects rooted in sustainability and material innovation. His recent work includes the Water Hyacinth design development project for NID Andhra Pradesh, exploring alternative plant fibres for textile and home-interior products.

He also served as an Associate Professor at NIFT, Chennai. As Craft Initiative Coordinator, he institutionalised linkages between students and craft clusters across Tamil Nadu, embedding field immersion and artisan collaboration into the curriculum. He also served as Campus Project Coordinator for USTTAD, a Ministry of Minority Affairs initiative, where he coordinated four design development workshops for 80 women artisans of the Pulicat Palm Leaf Women Cooperative Society, translating craft skills into market-ready fashion accessories and home products.

He is a Visiting Faculty at NID Ahmedabad, NID Andhra Pradesh, NID Assam and NIFT Chennai, and has taught at NIFT Panchkula, NIFT Bhubaneswar, SRM University, Hindustan University, VIT Chennai and Aalim Muhammed Salegh Academy of Architecture, Chennai.

Additionally, he has led several design-led workshops, mentoring both students and peers through a pedagogy that is hands-on, craft-sensitive and industry-aligned.

Karthikeyan’s industry experience is global and diverse. He has been associated as a designer with Bharat Tissus, Chamundi Silks, Parry Murray, London, Sylvie Martel Designs, UK, etc. He also co-launched the Coconut boutique in Lewes, UK.

A practising artist, he held Poojyam, a solo exhibition at Lalit Kala Academy, Chennai, in 2017. His paintings are displayed at Equitas Bank, the Prince of Arcot’s Ameer Mahal Palace, Tata Tiscon and in private collections.