Role
Debbie is Course leader for MA Textile Design Innovation and MA Fashion & Textile Design PT and a senior lecturer in the BA (Hons) textile Design course. As MA course leader, Debbie’s current academic responsibilities include : module leadership, course and curriculum development, Post Graduate Supervision, Personal tutorship, delivering Lectures, embroidery practical workshops and embroidery CAD, admissions and organising and curating Mastered show and New designers.
Debbie teaches across Year one and Year two in the BA (hons) Textile Design course specialising in embroidery, she delivers practical embroidery workshops in both hand and machine embroidery , embroidery CAD, tutorials, seminars, involved in assessment and is personal tutor to 2nd year embroidery students
Career overview
Following her MA at the RCA (1990) Debbie started her own business as a designer maker selling embroidered garments and accessories through craft fairs, galleries, shops and a select clientele. She also worked as a freelance designer with a range of companies, designers and agents.
Debbie has been involved in teaching for many years Debbie has taught at many levels: adult education at summer schools/ day courses, workshops and lectures to the embroiderer’s guild, BA (hons) and MA students. It is something that she is extremely passionate about and was awarded the Beryl Dean Award for Teaching Excellence in 2015
Debbie's work has featured in a number of books and publications:, Applique Style by Juliet Bawden published by Cassell, “The Book of Waistcoats” by Jacqueline Farrell, published by Quarto Publishing plc, “The World of Embroidery”, Needlecraft Magazine, Country Living Magazine, The Independent on Sunday and The Independent Newspaper, Woman’s Hour- Interviewed by Corrine Julias 1993. She contributed text regarding sampler captions for Peter Blake – Alphabets, text by Mel Gooding, published by D3 Editions in 2010.
Exhibited work in 'Journeys in Lace- Part One' , Wallner Gallery, Lakeside, staff exhibition as part of the lace season. 'Journeys in Lace - Part Two' Bonington Gallery, staff and student exhibition. Debbie's work is featured in the exhibition catalogue LACE HERE NOW edited by Dr Amanda Briggs-Goode and Deborah Dean, published by Blackdog, London
Research areas
Sustainable fashion and textiles – exploring embroidery/ darning/ longevity of garments.
Embroidery- hand , machine and digital techniques
External activity
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy Festival of Embroidery -Hand and Lock- guest speaker -2017 Judge - Beryl Dean Award for Teaching Excellence 2016
External Examiner at De Montford University - BA(Hons) Fashion and Accessories 2008-2011
Texprint Interview Panel member - Involved in the interviews and selection for a place to sell design at Premier Vision 2000-2005
Sponsors and collaborators
Regular collaboration and sponsorship from Spinexpo international yarn trade fair, Shanghai, New York, Paris: Managing trend driven student projects, developing yarn sponsorship, planning NTU graduate Textile and Knitwear exhibitions, building international reputation.
Publications
Contemporary Machine Embroidery by Deborah Gonet published by Mitchell Beazley 1996 -projects, text & Illustrations by Deborah Gonet