Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Dr Philippa Jackson
Lecturer
Research includes the psychological and theoretical aspects of wearer wellbeing, stemming from their practice based PhD which explored gender in clothing in connection with women who wear men’s clothing. Their teaching spans fashion design, pattern cutting, construction and theory.
Formally, employed in industry in the womenswear jersey and then branded accessories sector, before pursuing a career in academia. They joined Hull College as a fashion lecturer in 2008 and have since been employed in cultural theory at Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester Fashion Institute.
They have an MA in Creative Pattern cutting, a practice which developed ideas from a personal interest in voluminous clothing, and opened up the discussion of menswear on a woman's body. Practice based PhD research at Manchester Metropolitan University continued to develop this interest, along with intricate exploration of design methods, and an overarching ethos for sustainability and waste reduction.
As a lecturer, they focus on the importance of a sound theoretical background when designing. This embeds the importance of deeper thinking and an intricate understanding of the designers own method. Wide exploration and diverse ideas are encouraged in order to truly investigate design pathways.
Current Teaching
- BA (Hons) Fashion
- MA Fashion
Research Interests
The PhD brought about ongoing research into the role of the designer, and the importance of unpicking the method as a means of truly understanding designer motivation. It is hoped that this process of intricate thinking can enhance designers understanding of themselves. Specifically for fashion design education, this unpicking of method can enable young designers to identify method, and then to develop and expand it.
Similarly, the way in which the user impacts upon design pathways has become of focus of further research. PhD research found that a focus on the client made the designer more critical of their own design work, thus design was considered more deeply. Moreover, intimate knowledge of the client was seen to create a culture of care and responsibility, such that the importance of satisfying the clothing requirements of the client became paramount. It is hoped that this client centred design ethos can make fashion design more personal and therefore they may have longevity.
Ask Me About
- Art
- Design
- Feminism
- Gender
- Recycling
