Sharon Watts

Sharon Watts

Course Leader Textiles and Surface Pattern

  • Email address S.Watts@wlv.ac.uk
  • Phone number 01902 1916
  • Location MK Building, MK102
  • Faculty Faculty of Arts
  • Areas of expertise

    Fashion, Textiles

Main Teaching Areas

• Creative Design projects: Contextual Modules, Final Year Student Major Projects. Professional Promotional Modules, Employability, Concepts and Ideas Generation, Textiles Techniques, Design Drawing for Fashion &Textiles, Commercial Textile Design.

  • Phd proposal centres on the relationship between social class dress and design decision making,
  • MRes. Art and Design History Dissertation – STEEP Factors as Drivers for Creative Engagement ,
  • My research established Trend Forecasting companies and proposed a need to look at Futurology and STEEP factors as design drivers and catalysts for change.

2009  

  • MRes Art and Design History. Liverpool John Moores University,
  • Thesis: STEEP Factors as Drivers for Creative Engagement.

1989      

  • BA (Hons) Fashion and Textiles,
  • Specialism; Printed Textiles for Fashion. Liverpool Polytechnic (now LJMU).

1986         

  • Diploma in Art and Design, Foundation Studies. Liverpool Polytechnic.

2009–Symposium Tate Liverpool 

  • Where do we Sit?
  • Paper: Trend Forecasting Overload (in conjunction with LJMU)

Aug 2013 to Present

  • Course Leader BA(Hons) Fashion & Textiles, University of Wolverhampton

Widening Participation

  • Development of a range of teaching approaches to accommodate a changing student profile and variety of learning styles.
  • Whilst teaching across the UK I have also worked with a range of students with particular needs from deaf and disabled students to those with dyslexia and autism.

Curriculum Development and Module Writing

  • Developed 20 credit framework through Learning Works,
  • Part of Course Leader Team to develop new 120 credit framework for 2017.

2010-2013  

  • Senior Lecturer in Fashion and Textiles.

2008-2010  

  • Course Leader, Fashion and Textiles.  Management of staff team & students . Curriculum development.

2006-2008    

  • Course Leader for Contemporary Applied Arts.  Multi disciplinary course incorporating glass, ceramics, wood, metal and plastics.

2005-2008

  • Route Leader. Contemporary Applied Arts.

2001           

  • Senior Lecturer Design for Interior Textiles.

2001/2004

  • University of Huddersfield .

99/2001     

  • Liverpool John Moores University.  SL (0.5) Textile Design for Fashion .

99/2000

  • Leeds College Of Art.  SL (0.5) Printed Textiles,
  • Visiting Lecturer and Short term contracts.

Feb-June 2004   

  • University of Leeds.

January 2004

  • University of Leeds.

Feb 2001              

  • University of Huddersfiled.

May 2000              

  • Loughborough University.

June 1999                 

  • University Of Bolton. Visiting Lecturer .

August 1998

  • San Francisco Academy of Art.  Visiting Lecturer Fashion Textiles.

External Academic Involvement

Feb and July 2015         

  • External Verifier CDA Cyprus. Government funded request as subject specialist to verify pre-degree course in Fashion and Textiles,
  • Outcome: Course received Government funded accreditation following guidance from me.

Consultancy and Freelance Projects

2004  

  • The Works Design Studio, London. Children's Wear Design.

1999 -2005               

  • London Portfolio Design Studio New York . Design Studio specialising in surface pattern for paper products.

2000-2004      

  • KoolKards UK . Designed my own range of Greeting Cards and own label Paintbox.

1999-2001            

  • Amanda Kelly Design Studio, London. Women's wear Designs for US Market.

1999-2001  

  • Baxter Fawcett Design Studio, London. Menswear Designs for US market.

Full time Employment 

Sept 1994-Dec 1998

  • Art Director. Les Papillons Textile Design Studio, New York.

Sept 93-Sept 94               

  • Director of Print and Colour, August Silk, New York.

Sept 89-Sept 93             

  • Senior Designer, London Portfolio, New York.