Output details

Digital Textile Practice: An Investigation into Technology Utilisation, Teaching and Significance of Educator Creative Practice

This output comprises a paper directed by the research questions: • How do textile educators use digital technologies in their own creative practice? • How do textile educator roles vary in terms of teaching digital technologies? • Do connections exist between textile educator approaches to digital technology utilisation in own creative and teaching practices? • What is the significance of textile educator digital technology utilisation in own creative practice to teaching? The project used a multi-method approach comprising a self-case study of the author’s evolving designer and educator role, a UK-wide online quantitative survey and seven case studies consisting of primarily qualitative interviews. The survey data provides broad contextual insight, whereas the case study examples give an in-depth perspective. Although focusing on textile design HE in the UK, printed textiles and surface pattern design, the paper is insightful to others operating outside of this context. Throughout the evolution of art and design HE in the UK the importance of educator engagement in own creative practice to learning and teaching has been widely recognised. However, factors existent in the HE system impact upon the educator role and can be counterproductive to undertaking creative practice. The integration of digital technologies in printed textiles and surface pattern design has transformed design and production processes. Due to the continually evolving nature of digital technologies, for educators, undertaking creative practice remains of paramount importance to inform teaching. This output contributes to understanding regarding the educator role, digital technology utilisation and educator creative practice and teaching linkages. There is minimal existent literature related to these areas and specifically to the textile design discipline. The Research Journal of Textile and Apparel is published by the Hong Kong Institute of Textile and Apparel; papers are blind peer-reviewed by experts from a range of international institutions.