Thomai is the Programme Leader in MDes Interior Design, with more than a decade of teaching experience at both postgraduate and undergraduate levels. Her research explores the interplay of identity, culture, and material expression, focusing on how objects and crafting practices shape our understanding of self, space, and belonging. She investigates the narratives embedded within everyday artefacts, examining how their creation and use contribute to cultural heritage and a sense of place.

Through an interdisciplinary approach, Thomai currently examines the psychological, cultural, and social dimensions of material culture, particularly in public and retail spaces. She explores the performative aspects of human interaction with objects, analysing how these interactions transform ordinary environments and influence spatial awareness. By interweaving analog and digital techniques, she continuously explores making processes that reveal new insights into objects’ identities and their impact on space.

Her pedagogical practice is deeply informed by her research, particularly her Master's in Education