Dr Lisa Nel
ECP Coordinator and Lecturer of Design and Studio Art, Faculty of Humanities.
Qualification(s)
- • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Art and Design, University of Johannesburg, FADA.
Title: Weaving a conscientizing rhizomatic fashion sustainability framework.
https://hdl.handle.net/10210/519513 - • Master of Technology Design, CUT, Department of Design and Studio Art.
Title: Revaluing commodity fetishism to facilitate fashion sustainability - • Bachelor of Technology Clothing. CUT.
- • National Diploma in Fashion Design. CUT.
- • Higher Education modules: Facilitation and Assessment. UFS.
Areas of Expertise
- • Critical Discourse Analysis
- • Ethics of Care
- • Extended Curriculum Programmes
- • Global South narratives
- • Fashion Sustainability
- • Fashion ecosystems
- • Rhizomatic Philosophy
- • Service Learning
Publications
Book(s) or Chapter(s) in Books
- • Nel, L., Smal, D., and Munro, A. 2025. Contrasting Hierarchical and Decentralised System Analogies to Revalue Prosperity: Decentralised System Analogies Enabling Fashion Sustainability. In Fashion Highlight Journal Special Online Issue, 01/2025: 582- 592. ISSN:2975-0466. https://doi.org/10.36253/fh-3140
- • Bye, E., Tomfohrde, B., Nel, L., & S, Davis. 2023. Unheard voices: Reclaiming fashion Sustainability. In, Accelerating Sustainability in Fashion, Apparel & Textiles. Charter, M., Black, S., and Pan, B. (Eds.). September 11th, pp. 230-239. Routledge, UK. ISBN 9781032225173. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003272878-23
- • Nel, L. 2020. Developing graduate attributes through a Service-Learning approach in a design and art extended curriculum programme. In Rollnick, M. and Lubben, F. (Eds), proceedings of the 14-15th August Colloquium on Extended Programmes. University of Pretoria, SA. ISBN: 978-0-620-91011-8 https://www.up.ac.za/colloquium2019
- • Nel, L. and Venter, L. 2009. An Evaluation of Interpreted Technical and Aesthetical Design Suitability in Garments. 12th National Design Education Forum Conference Proceedings on the 4-5th November, co-hosted by NNMU. The conference theme was: ‘Opening gates, between and beyond design disciplines: environmental awareness’. Graaff Reinet, SA. Copyright 2009 by DEFSA, South Africa https://defsa.org.za/papers/evaluation-interpreted
Presentations at Conferences, Seminars or Workshops
- • Nel, L. 2026, May. Weaving Knowledge Ecologies: Rhizomatic Roots and Routes toward Conscientizing Futures [Conference presentation]. Cumulus Athens 2026: Roots | Routes in Design, Athens, Greece. (In press to publish in proceedings in Nov).
- • Nel, L., Smal, D., and Munro, A. 2025. Contrasting Hierarchical and Decentralised System Analogies to Revalue Prosperity: Decentralised System Analogies Enabling Fashion Sustainability. Paper presented, 13th-14th February 2025. Prosperity Fashion International Conference. UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDI DI FIRENZE. Dipartimento di Architettura (DIDA). Florence, Italy.
- • Nel, L. Sustainable Development Goals and Fashion Sustainability. Designing for a Conscious Future Symposium. UJ Advanced diploma guest lecturer. 5 March 2025. UJ, FADA. Online.
- • Nel, L. Weaving a rhizomatic conscientizing fashion sustainability framework. Desis Talks. PhD studies in fashion. 5th June 2024. 12:00. UJ, FADA. Online.
- • Nel, L. #Disconnect. Provocation: Fashion Symposium. Changing the Narrative: If we don’t do something, we don’t do something. UJ, FADA and DEFSA. Online. 20th September 2024. 8:30-14:30.
Recent Internationalisation Activities
- • Paper presented at the international Cumulus Athens 2026 Conference.
Nel, L. (2026, May). Weaving Knowledge Ecologies: Rhizomatic Roots and Routes toward Conscientizing Futures [Conference presentation]. Cumulus Athens 2026: Roots | Routes in Design, Athens, Greece. (In press to publish in proceedings in Nov).
Community Engagement Project(s)
- •
Bloemfontein Community murals in collaboration with UFS art school and local artist Liezel Wessels.
Active/ongoing 2022-2026 - •
Sustainable product development workshops. Kopano community centre. Transnet centre for the disabled.
Complete 2017 & 2019 - •
Wall murals at Youth centre school for orphans with ECP Design & Studio Art students.
Complete 2016-2018 - •
Art room at Leboni Village community centre. L Nel and radiography student’s collaboration.
Complete 2018 - •
Service-learning onesie world collaboration with ECP Design & Studio Art students at UFS art festival.
Complete2017 - •
Wall murals at Onze rust primary school with ECP Design & Studio Art students
Complete 2012 - •
Wall murals at Bloemfontein early childhood development centre with ECP Design & Studio Art students
Complete 2013-2015
