In the 20-year gap between earning his BID degree at RISD and returning here to teach full-time, Khipra Nichols was a lead product designer at Hasbro, the toy company headquartered in Pawtucket, RI. Among the familiar toys he helped develop and refine in that time are Mr. Potato Head, My Little Pony and many products in the Playskool line; the 16 patents Nichols has earned reflect his specialty in infant care items for feeding, health and safety, as well as parent aids and licensed soft toys. RISD ID students now benefit from his extensive industry experience in studios that emphasize workplace standards, from real product briefs to functional and manufacturing requirements. In addition to teaching, Nichols continues his own work as an inventor and design consultant, helping companies foster innovation in their development teams.