Role
As a senior lecturer Claire's current academic responsibilities includes module leadership of level Two for BA (Hons) Fashion Knitwear Design and Knitted Textile Design. Academic duties within this role include:
- curriculum design
- management of industry driven projects and competitions
- delivery of practical design led workshops
- facilitating tutorials
- supporting individual design investigation, and
- assessment.
She specialises in machine knitting and crochet and has experience teaching across programmes introducing level 1 BA (Hons) Textile Design students to the Knitwear specialism. Claire also supervises postgraduate students on the taught MA Applied Design Futures programme.
Claire is also the admissions tutor for BA (Hons) Fashion Knitwear Design and Knitted Textiles and has delivered lecturers relating to the subject area and programme to Further Education Colleges.
Claire has a particular interest in creative design development through visual and forthcoming trend research and is currently engaged in writing a chapter on ‘Design Research’ for Crowood Press.
Career overview
Claireworked as a knitted swatch designer for over fourteen years selling original trend-forward knitted fashion fabric designs across both commercial and designer market levels. Her main clients included Donna Karen, TSE Cashmere, DKNY, Paul & Joe, Marks & Spencer and Banana Republic. More recently Claire has exhibited knitted fashion fabrics at SPINEXPO Shanghai and had creative knitted fabric direction published on WGSN.
Following working in industry Claire is now particularly interested in maintaining and seeking a range of Live projects within diverse markets and brands to offer students the opportunity to work directly within the areas they aspire to.
Research areas
Claire's current and on-going research focuses upon an interest in encouraging a more responsible and sustainable approach to the selection of materials used within Knitwear and Textile Design. Sustainable strategies have been integrated within the curriculum and has challenged those engaged to consider the advantages and limitations of sustainable materials and fabric finishing.
Claire has managed a project supporting The Five Year Wool Campaign through the promotion of Rowan Yarns Pure Life Sheep Breeds range of yarn. Following the success of this project selected student works were exhibited at Love Wool UK relating to the launch of Wool Week 2011 and featured on the Rowan website.
Following a background of creating crochet designs for fashion and accessories interest now lies within three-dimensional hyperbolic crocheted forms. A series of interlocking structures are initially inspired by curves, loops and basic shapes, naturally created using sustainable materials.
Claire has been responsible for delivering crochet classes at Ruddington Framework Knitters Museum.
External activity
Claire has over 12 years industry experience in fabric development for fashion knitwear and accessories having worked as a freelance designer for a broad range of clients. These include Donna Karan, Abercrombie and Fitch, Banana Republic, American Eagle, Anne Klein and Marc Jacobs in the US, as well as UK high street clients such as M&S, Oasis and Warehouse.
Calire is also an External Examiner for Hull College BA (hons) Textile Design
Sponsors and collaborators
- Rowan Yarns
- Spin Expo