Shemal (pronounced shame.al) (he/they) is an intersectional, queer design educator from suburban Bombay. They acknowledge that they benefit from the existing caste norms. They have a Graduate Diploma in Interior Space and Furniture Design from MIT Institute of Design, Pune and Master in Interior Architecture and Design with a specialization in History, Theory and Criticism from CEPT University, Ahmedabad. Their master’s thesis titled ‘Narratives and Spaces Emerging around Sexuality in Bombay‘ was awarded best thesis for Gender-Based Studies at CEPT University. Over the last five years, they have worked with various institutions such as the National Institute of Design, CEPT University, School of Design, Ambedkar University, MIT Institute of Design, SPA Bhopal, and Centre de Sciences Humaines, Delhi in various capacities. They are interested in critical feminism and queer theory, modernism, urbanism and the queer subject, agency of designers in spatial geographies, intersectional design, and political practices. They currently ponder on queer pedagogies and inclusive educational and curriculum spaces as a Faculty in the Exhibition Design Program at the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad.
They enjoy coffee, skiing and pop media references and are enthused with the idea of collaboration.
