As well as teaching at several institutions in Canada and the UK, and working in various roles in a range of museums, Dr. Oak’s background includes the studio-based study of fashion, furniture, and graphic design, an MA(RCA) in Design History, and a PhD in the social psychology of design practice. Dr Oak’s research explores the social aspects of design, with particular attention directed to how language is used during the creation, mediation, and consumption of designed products and buildings. Her current research projects are focused on examining how narratives and networks of agency are managed and performed in the practice of fashion design and architecture, and in the education of artists and designers.