From the start of my academic career it was natural for me to focus my scholarship on creative work. Through the creative process I expose myself to new problem solving opportunities to probe in the pursuit of new knowledge through new designs. It is the challenge of design in combination with construction that constantly drives me to explore new opportunities in my work. Throughout my career my work has been centered on a few focused lines of inquiry; alternative ways of shaping garments, sustainability and design process. During my time at Kent State University this has resulted in 15 awards, 40 original designs, 71 accepted exhibition entries in 40 different exhibitions on the national and international level. It has also been important to me to show my work in groups of exploration. Therefore I made a decision early on to present larger bodies of my work. During my time at Kent State University I have presented my work in the U.S. and abroad in 6 solo exhibitions with a 7th this summer at the Zorn Museum in Mora, Sweden. Additionally I have made 15 peer reviewed presentations and 14 invited presentations along with one published article in the International Journal of Fashion Design Education and Technology. Below I will explain a bit more in detail my approaches to my inquiries and if you are interested in viewing my designs and reading more about each one, go to the galleries on this website. 

All three of my focuses; alternative shaping, sustainability and design process, directly relate and you will find that in my later work all have been considered as a major component in the development of many designs. Narrowing my field of options in theme and color expands the need to use craft technique, shape or surface design to solve creative issues within each garment. A primary example of this approach is the circles, hearts and knit stitches, which feature prominently in this body of work. I have found that the more the limited the starting point the further the exploration is pushed. In regard to sustainability, an issue that cannot be ignored in design or any other field, I have found it should be considered a challenge that helps further my exploration rather than limit it. Sustainability came into my work in a very natural route I initially did not realize that I was addressing it as I was using the leftover shapes of fabric as a design challenge in patterning the of another garment. Following this design, I made a decision to turn the limitation of waste into focus through the construction of garments, both as a way to raise awareness to the audience in exhibition work, as well as explore solutions to the sustainability challenge through my patterning and design. Lastly the design process and the approach to design is something that will always be at the center of my work both through my constant exposure through my own work,  but also as a way to understand the process to be able to share and teach it as effectively as possible. Therefore I have worked to reflect more in detail on my own process, and also study others designer processes to see what more effective approaches might be. In conclusions the purpose of my creative scholarship is to explore challenge and push the boundaries of construction as it relates to shape, sustainability, and process, to further the knowledge of fashion design.