Georgia Mckie BA(Hons), MA(RCA), SFHEA, 

• Programme Manager Surface Pattern and Textiles portfolio
• Academic Champion of Enterprise

On graduating from the Royal College of Art with MA Constructed Textiles I set about marrying my creative outputs with a high-end commercial need. 

Until 2005 I worked freelance for fashion design houses, businesses and designers, and freelance for textile sample design agents.  I also marketed my products under my own name nationally and internationally.

I have been working in HE since graduating from the RCA in 1997 alongside my own creative practice.  I also worked in FE for 7 years alongside these commitments.

• Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA)

I am the Programme Manager for the Surface Pattern and Textiles portfolio of courses, working closely with my team of colleagues to design and implement a vibrant, forward looking, multidisciplinary programme.  I am Level 6 year tutor, but work across the levels of the programme, but primarily with 2^nd and 3^rd years.

I am a Welsh Government designated Academic Champion of Enterprise and a key area of my role is facilitating and targeting live projects and external liaisons for the Surface Pattern and Textiles students.  Experiences of externality range from local to global and this dynamic approach is now at the core of the programme.  This strategy sets our student experience and ultimately our graduates apart.

I deliver a wide variety of practical workshops across the Surface Pattern and Textiles 3 x Undergraduate pathways and our MDes level. 

The keystone to all studio based/practical projects on the Surface Pattern course is drawing and it is from these rigorous starting points that we expand out the design process in whatever appropriate directions the projects dictate.  This involves demonstrations and workshops developing strategies for drawing and recording ideas, visual communication skills, making and materiality, conceptual development, design thinking, contextual understanding and marketing.  I work across this expanse.

For many years my research was focussed entirely within knitted textiles and knitwear. In recent years this has shifted to allow exploration within a wider textile design framework. This has involved expanding my horizons in response to changing technology, trends and innovations and essentially to fuel my role as Senior Lecturer on the incredibly far-reaching Surface Pattern and Textiles programme. Pedagogical research works in parallel to my personal practice research.

A consistent link to industry via live and community engagement projects, and the pursuit of my own professional development ensures that the content of the programmes I employ are relevant and current to the prospective career pathways of the students I teach. This represents the fundamental principle of my research interests.

My specific area of expertise within textiles is knitted textiles. I have worked in a knitwear and knitted textiles capacity and specialised to MA Constructed Textiles – Knitted Textiles, at the RCA.

I specialise in teaching the design process across the breadth of our programme. I have been involved in driving improvement in the way students have been able to plan for, design and analyse pattern and it’s application on this course – both printed and constructed.

I specialise in enhancing the Programme’s externality and links with industry through live projects, external liaisons and competitions. This is supported through Major Modules and practical studio-based projects as well as through the Graduate Attribute framework.

I have worked freelance for high-end fashion design houses and designers, and freelance for textile sample design agents. I have worked as a trend consultant with a textile studio. I have worked as a designer maker under my own name, selling my products nationally and exporting them to America through a New York based agent. I have sold my work through established gallery and museum curated shops as well as boutiques and internationally renowned high-end department stores. I have worked with individuals on commissions. I have sold through design fairs, trade fairs and agents. I have received support from The Arts Council of Wales twice, and the UKTI (UK Trade and Investment) once.

I have successfully run my own creative enterprise and sold through National and International outlets in a variety of capacities. I have taught enterprise at HE and FE level in specific relation to Creative Arts and continue to do so through the afore mentioned Modules within the Surface Pattern and Textiles portfolio of programmes.