Erika Balcombe

PhD Candidate

About

I am a PhD candidate in the department of anthropology and a sessional lecturer at UBC. I am also a regular faculty member with the Wilson School of Design at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. In my academic journey, I attended Universite d’Ottawa, British Columbia Institute of Technology, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, and the University of British Columbia and have obtained a BA Anthropology, BAD Bachelor of Applied Design, MA Museum Anthropology, and PhD (c) Design Anthropology. During my course of education, I have also worked as a professional designer for cultural institutions, exhibitions, public space, and workplace. Today I try to engage in creative projects that can bring together design + anthropology in ways that generate new forms of material culture.
 
UBC Supervisor: Dr. Nicola Levell
PhD Committee: Dr. Carol Blackburn, Dr. Shannon Leddy, Dr. David Gaertner

Research

Research Key Words
Museums, architecture + design, exhibition, material culture, studio methodology, sensory anthropology
 
Research Summary
My graduate research at UBC continues to revolve around the built environment. My thesis considered how spaces of exhibition could be decolonized—for this inquiry I used the Museum of Anthropology as a living case study. My interest in design anthropology extends now to my current doctoral research where I examine studio and maker spaces and their potential as sites for reconciliation.
 
Concurrently, I am also a co-investigator for an NSERC-funded project carried out at the Wilson School of Design, focusing on community-based design projects. I have also engaged in research for cultural institutions including: the Museum of Anthropology, The Jewish Museum and Archives of British Columbia, Wilson School of Design, and the Museum of Vancouver.

Additional Description

Museum Anthropology, Design Anthropology


Erika Balcombe

PhD Candidate

About

I am a PhD candidate in the department of anthropology and a sessional lecturer at UBC. I am also a regular faculty member with the Wilson School of Design at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. In my academic journey, I attended Universite d’Ottawa, British Columbia Institute of Technology, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, and the University of British Columbia and have obtained a BA Anthropology, BAD Bachelor of Applied Design, MA Museum Anthropology, and PhD (c) Design Anthropology. During my course of education, I have also worked as a professional designer for cultural institutions, exhibitions, public space, and workplace. Today I try to engage in creative projects that can bring together design + anthropology in ways that generate new forms of material culture.
 
UBC Supervisor: Dr. Nicola Levell
PhD Committee: Dr. Carol Blackburn, Dr. Shannon Leddy, Dr. David Gaertner

Research

Research Key Words
Museums, architecture + design, exhibition, material culture, studio methodology, sensory anthropology
 
Research Summary
My graduate research at UBC continues to revolve around the built environment. My thesis considered how spaces of exhibition could be decolonized—for this inquiry I used the Museum of Anthropology as a living case study. My interest in design anthropology extends now to my current doctoral research where I examine studio and maker spaces and their potential as sites for reconciliation.
 
Concurrently, I am also a co-investigator for an NSERC-funded project carried out at the Wilson School of Design, focusing on community-based design projects. I have also engaged in research for cultural institutions including: the Museum of Anthropology, The Jewish Museum and Archives of British Columbia, Wilson School of Design, and the Museum of Vancouver.

Additional Description

Museum Anthropology, Design Anthropology


Erika Balcombe

PhD Candidate
About keyboard_arrow_down
I am a PhD candidate in the department of anthropology and a sessional lecturer at UBC. I am also a regular faculty member with the Wilson School of Design at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. In my academic journey, I attended Universite d’Ottawa, British Columbia Institute of Technology, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, and the University of British Columbia and have obtained a BA Anthropology, BAD Bachelor of Applied Design, MA Museum Anthropology, and PhD (c) Design Anthropology. During my course of education, I have also worked as a professional designer for cultural institutions, exhibitions, public space, and workplace. Today I try to engage in creative projects that can bring together design + anthropology in ways that generate new forms of material culture.
 
UBC Supervisor: Dr. Nicola Levell
PhD Committee: Dr. Carol Blackburn, Dr. Shannon Leddy, Dr. David Gaertner
Research keyboard_arrow_down
Research Key Words
Museums, architecture + design, exhibition, material culture, studio methodology, sensory anthropology
 
Research Summary
My graduate research at UBC continues to revolve around the built environment. My thesis considered how spaces of exhibition could be decolonized—for this inquiry I used the Museum of Anthropology as a living case study. My interest in design anthropology extends now to my current doctoral research where I examine studio and maker spaces and their potential as sites for reconciliation.
 
Concurrently, I am also a co-investigator for an NSERC-funded project carried out at the Wilson School of Design, focusing on community-based design projects. I have also engaged in research for cultural institutions including: the Museum of Anthropology, The Jewish Museum and Archives of British Columbia, Wilson School of Design, and the Museum of Vancouver.
Additional Description keyboard_arrow_down

Museum Anthropology, Design Anthropology