All Walks Beyond the Catwalk -Investing in education. Producing visionaries. Spearheading a paradigm shift in fashion.
Working alongside the All Walks Centre of Diversity is the Research Network which aims to create innovative research to demonstrate new methods of approaching design for a diverse consumer base to educators, students, customers and industry.
DESIGN FOR DIVERSITY – Academics pioneering the way
Report by Mal Burkinshaw MA (RCA): Director of All Walks Centre of Diversity and Programme Director of Fashion, Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh.
This research network for Emotionally Considerate Design has been set up at Edinburgh College of Art in collaboration with All Walks Beyond the Catwalk. The project unites academics and industry experts across the spectrum of UK fashion education. The research network believes that in order to teach ‘emotionally considerate design’ which has at its heart an understanding of the need for diversity and individuality and implement this effectively, academics must research and develop their knowledge of this complex and vast subject.
The research network has received seed funding from the Scottish Academy of Fashion, and aims to develop leading educational and research projects asking students and fashion industry sectors to celebrate a more diverse approach to body image and beauty through fashion design and marketing.
Timeline - Achievements thus far
Jan 2011: SAF Sandpit event in Dundee. Emotional Engagement project discussed and initiated uniting academic researchers from main SAF institutions.
May 2011: Awarded £2000 seed funding by the Scottish Academy of Fashion.
June 2011: First Network meeting held at Edinburgh College of Art: focusing research project and it’s underpinning of All Walks Centre of Diversity.
June 2011: Edinburgh College of Art was announced as the All Walks Beyond the Catwalk Centre of Excellence for Diversity – Mal announced as Director of the Centre. The Centre will work with researchers and industry experts from across the UK to develop leading educational projects asking students to celebrate and address a more diverse approach to body image and beauty through fashion design and marketing.
August 2011: Mal meets with National Galleries Scotland to confirm and develop collaborative opportunities for the research project exploring historical approaches to image and beauty through portraiture.
Sept 1st: Second research focus group meeting and planning for symposium.
Sept 2nd: Symposium: ‘Emotional Engagement and Centre of Diversity’ held on Sept 2nd at Edinburgh College of Art developing the strategy towards exhibition, documentary, online presence and publication in 2013.
In attendance:
- Karen Cross, Course Leader BA Fashion Management, Aberdeen Business School, The Robert Gordon University
- Jo Royle: Head of Department, Department of Communication, Marketing and Media, Aberdeen Business School, RGU.
- Mal Burkinshaw: Programme Director of Fashion, Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh)
- Linda Shearer: Programme Leader BA (Hons) Fashion Business Department of Fashion, Marketing and Retailing
- Rinaldo Girsoli: Lecturer in pattern cutting, Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh
- Anne Chaisty: Course Leader BA [HONS] Fashion Studies The Arts, University College at Bournemouth
- Caryn Franklin: All Walks Beyond the Catwalk
- Debra Bourne: All Walks Beyond the Catwalk
- Jo Swinson: MP : Deputy Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats. co-founder of the Campaign for Body Confidence
- Denise McKeever: Designovater
- Betsy Reed: Zero Waste Scotland
- Philip Clarke: Programme Leader Fashion Photography and Communication: Southampton Solent University
- Jacqueline McMahon: Research Development Officer for ECA & College Research Officer for College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Sept 2011: Mal Burkinshaw and Linda Shearer (Glasgow Caledonian University) selected to present at the 1st Global Conference, Beauty: Exploring Critical Issues, Mansfield College, Oxford. The paper is titled ‘Emotional Engagement’ and acts as a case study of the ECA All Walks Icon Project 2011, and introduces the ‘Emotional Engagement’ research project.
Sept 2011: Mal Burkinshaw presents ‘Emotional Engagement’ at the Fashioning an Ethical Industries Conference, Glasgow Sept 28th 2011.
For more information please contact
Mal Burkinshaw