Allison W
- Research Program Mentor
MFA at Cranbrook Academy of Art, Detroit
Expertise
Sustainable textile design, manufacturing, and business. Architectural research and design (focus on modernism), painting concepts and portfolio development
Bio
My academic expertise in Sustainable Textile Design, and Architectural Design Foundations. In this areas, I mentor students in technique, concept and process for creating strong projects, research papers and portfolios. Additionally, I help students connect their creative work with business. My business is PLUM textiles which is textile consultancy and sustainable manufacturing practice. We are zero waste and our local sewers are paid a fair wage. Stemming from experiences in textile dye processes and material research, my practice offers a sustainable model for sourcing and making home textile. As former co-leader of the Architecture Foundations program at the University of Illinois, I work with students specifically in basic design, model making, drawing and visual representation, original architectural research and material and construction science.Project ideas
Textile Product Design Prototype
In this project, I would help students create a new textile product design and research. This would mean researching many topics, including history, fibers and raw materials, supply chain, design processes (hand, digital, dye, recycle, etc.), technical considerations, and color application and palette of a particular product direction. Then, we would create a series of physical iterations of this product in muslin and small scale, and critique each. Finally, a full scale model with actual materials and manufacturing techniques would be made. This could apply to fashion or home goods.
Sustainable Manufacturing Research Paper
This project would explore sustainable manufacturing and production methods as it applies to fashion, accessories, or home goods. To start, we will discuss ideas of recycling and up-cycling as strategies for making sustainable products. Then, we will look at all the components of product design and development -- materials, supply chain, production, and construction through these sustainable lenses. Then we could formulate a method for making a new, scalable and sustainably made object/product. We will then make the product.
Architectural Research, Model + Drawings
In this project, we will study the basics of 3-D design and use these to engineer a small architectural construct/model. The project will start with research into works of similar scale and program, and a discussion of design features employed. We discuss model making strategies and materials, and work on several small scale models using balsa wood and styrofoam. Once these have been discussed, students will make a final small scale model. Perspective drawings and elevations will be part of the final package.
Creative Portfolio Development
For students who are applying to competitive art and design programs, I work with students to assess, develop, and package portfolio for admittance. We will look at concept, technique, medium, and presentation and write a work statement to accompany the portfolio.