Jenny Pinski
Loughborough University, School of the Arts, Faculty Member
- Jenny Pinski is a Lecturer in Textiles, a member of the Textile Design Research Group and is based in the School of t... moreJenny Pinski is a Lecturer in Textiles, a member of the Textile Design Research Group and is based in the School of the Arts, English and Drama. Her PhD, Weave as a method of sandal design: Innovation through a hands-on approach, relates to her research interests in woven textiles and footwear design. Prior to starting at Loughborough Jenny spent a number of years in the footwear industry. During this time she designed and developed shoes for an international brand along with providing colour and trend research. Jenny’s educational background lies in woven textile design and she holds a first class honours degree in this discipline. Her expertise in footwear and textiles inform her current research which investigates the application of hands-on textile design approaches to commercial sandal design. More broadly, Jenny’s research interests revolve around hands-on/craft-based approaches to design and the application of textile approaches in other disciplines such as product design. Other interests include, but are not limited to, the role of design practice in academic research. Jenny uses her experience and skills as a practitioner to engage in practice-based research, the outcomes of which she has exhibited internationally and presented at national and international conferences.edit
Commercial sandals are often designed in a 2D format and materials are generally applied during design development rather than the earlier stages of the process. In contrast, hands-on woven textile design is often carried out through... more
Commercial sandals are often designed in a 2D format and materials are generally applied during design development rather than the earlier stages of the process. In contrast, hands-on woven textile design is often carried out through making and interaction with materials. This paper presents the findings of an action research case study that investigated the use of 'hands-on' woven textile approaches to sandal design at different stages of the design process. The role that hands-on interaction with materials plays at each stage is analysed to assess areas of potential for its integration. The case study presented in this paper focuses on an aspect of wider research that investigates the potential for innovation through hands-on interaction with materials in the sandal design process. The research questions for the study are: is there potential for the in-depth knowledge of materials and construction gained through a hands-on approach to be applied in the sandal design process; where and how does it have the potential to be integrated; how does the use of hands-on interaction with materials compare with more conventional approaches at different stages of the design process? The case study was undertaken in the form of a sandal design project that incorporated the use of hands-on woven textile approaches. The designs produced were informed by knowledge generated through hands-on weaving techniques. The discussion of the empirical research refers to a literature review that was conducted alongside this case study. The findings indicate that there is potential for a hands-on woven textile approach to sandal design and it may be integrated at all stages of the design process. Key challenges were noted in relation to issues of time and cost efficiency in comparison to using conventional footwear design approaches alone. Benefits in terms of opportunity for innovation, generation of in-depth knowledge and immediacy, along with control in decision-making are discussed. Hybrid approaches are also identified as being suitable for bringing together outcomes that consist of a number of different formats. Woven textile design processes often rely on making as a method of generating and realising design ideas whereas footwear design more commonly relies on the use of 2D approaches such as drawing (using CAD or by hand). Through hands-on interaction with materials, intimate and experiential knowledge is gained of the materials and construction (Philpott, 2012, p. 69; Sennett, 2009, p. 160). This paper reports on an action research case study that investigates the use of hands-on woven textile approaches to sandal design. The case study forms part of wider research into the potential for hands-on woven textile approaches to facilitate innovation. An overview of the wider research context is presented
Research Interests:
This is a work from an exhibition arising from collaborations curated by the Textile Design Research Group at Loughborough University and Loughborough University Arts shown on 13-14 September at Loughborough University London alongside... more
This is a work from an exhibition arising from collaborations curated by the Textile Design Research Group at Loughborough University and Loughborough University Arts shown on 13-14 September at Loughborough University London alongside the one-day INTERSECTIONS Conference on 13 September 2017.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Commercial sandals are often designed in a 2D format and materials are generally applied during design development rather than the earlier stages of the process. In contrast, handson woven textile design is often carried out through... more
Commercial sandals are often designed in a 2D format and materials are generally applied during design development rather than the earlier stages of the process. In contrast, handson woven textile design is often carried out through making and interaction with materials. This paper presents the findings of an action research case study that investigated the use of ‘hands-on’ woven textile approaches to sandal design at different stages of the design process. The role that hands-on interaction with materials plays at each stage is analysed to assess areas of potential for its integration. The case study presented in this paper focuses on an aspect of wider research that investigates the potential for innovation through handson interaction with materials in the sandal design process. The research questions for the study are: is there potential for the in-depth knowledge of materials and construction gained through a hands-on approach to be applied in the sandal design process; where a...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
This is a work from an exhibition arising from collaborations curated by the Textile Design Research Group at Loughborough University and Loughborough University Arts shown on 13-14 September at Loughborough University London alongside... more
This is a work from an exhibition arising from collaborations curated by the Textile Design Research Group at Loughborough University and Loughborough University Arts shown on 13-14 September at Loughborough University London alongside the one-day INTERSECTIONS Conference on 13 September 2017.
Research Interests:
The role of hand processes in design has evolved through history and in the present day, designers frequently employ digital methods. This brings opportunities but can limit material knowledge and it is therefore timely to reflect on the... more
The role of hand processes in design has evolved through history and in the present day, designers frequently employ digital methods. This brings opportunities but can limit material knowledge and it is therefore timely to reflect on the significance of hand processes. This paper explores the potential of craft-based woven textile approaches to designing sandals for large-scale manufacture. It addresses the research questions: what is the current situation/market in footwear/woven textile design; what are the benefits/drawbacks of a hands-on/craft-based approach to footwear design; does the approach have the potential to facilitate improved sustainability and if so, in what capacity? The paper presents findings from a practice-led study and key advantages of a craft-based approach were identified in generating in-depth knowledge of constructions and materials. This led to design outcomes that have potential benefits in sustainability through a zero/low-waste construction. However, t...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
When changing from traditional classrooms to innovative learning environments it is crucial to include the users of the environment in the design process. However, participatory processes might be limited by contrasting expertise,... more
When changing from traditional classrooms to innovative learning environments it is crucial to include the users of the environment in the design process. However, participatory processes might be limited by contrasting expertise, cultures, priorities or project restrictions, which poses a risk to the alignment of spatial design and pedagogical practices. To meet this challenge, the article proposes a post-design participatory activation process aimed to support the transition into new learning spaces. This is exemplified in an empirical case, where co-design methods and physical design objects have been explored as tools to foster spatial literacy and competencies in a fifth-grade cohort (teachers and students), and potentially match pedagogical practices with spatial affordances. Participatory activation is believed to be an ongoing process because learning environments are not static designs – they keep evolving based on people, pedagogies and practices.