Clare Calveley BA, MA, PGCE

Senior Lecturer
Textiles in Practice

Clare Calveley is a Senior Lecturer and Deputy Programme Leader for the BA (Hons) Textiles in Practice at Manchester School of Art. Her academic leadership centres on the integration of digital and virtual textile innovation tools within the curriculum, embedding future-focused practices that equip students with the critical and technical skills required for success in an increasingly digital creative industries landscape. Her work operates at the intersection of design education, material innovation, and technological advancement, contributing to pedagogical development and curriculum renewal.

Clare has recently been appointed as the Lead Innovation Scholar (LEED) for 2025–27 in DELTA & Digital Inclusion, where she will lead institutional strategy around teaching, learning, and student support, with a particular emphasis on digital literacy and its role in shaping positive graduate outcomes. In parallel, she will undertake the Future Education Leaders (FEL) course in 2025–26, further supporting her contribution to institutional education strategy and the enhancement of student success.

In her current role as Graduate Outcomes Champion for the School of Art & Design, Clare leads strategic initiatives that align academic provision with evolving employability demands. She works to ensure students are equipped with the professional competencies, industry experience, and career literacy necessary for sustained success in the creative sector. Her leadership also extends externally through her appointment as External Examiner for the BA (Hons) Surface Pattern and Textile Design programme at Staffordshire University, where she contributes to quality assurance, curriculum relevance, and sector-wide best practice.

Clare is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, recognising her sustained commitment to excellence in teaching, learning, and academic leadership. She is a recognised advocate for interdisciplinary collaboration and sustainable innovation in design education, working to bridge the gap between traditional textile practices and emerging digital technologies to foster adaptable, industry-ready graduates.

Clare’s academic qualifications and professional experience in both textiles and graphic design support interdisciplinary collaboration, enabling students to engage with diverse creative practices beyond the boundaries of their core programme. Her approach enriches the student learning experience by fostering critical engagement with broader design contexts and preparing graduates for the multifaceted demands of the contemporary creative industries. She has successfully led student-led collaborative projects with a range of industry partners, including Crown Paints, Colour in Design Award, Style3D, Material Source Studio, Colour of Saying, BrandLab360 and Hallmark, providing real-world experience and professional exposure within design education.

Clare's academic research interests investigate the use of colour, pattern, and cloth as dynamic and responsive mediums, situating her work at the intersection of materiality, textiles, and emerging technologies. Her practice-led inquiry engages with virtual textiles to explore innovative pedagogical approaches, while addressing the digital skills gap within textile education as a pathway to fostering sustainable change in the industry. She is widely recognised for her leadership in digital transformation, demonstrating strategic vision and advocating for a digital-first mindset within higher education to better align academic practice with the evolving needs of the textiles and fashion sectors.

As part of her commitment to knowledge exchange and collaborative innovation, she is currently engaged in a research partnership with Swatcheditor, focusing on the development of a real-time 3D viewing and editing application for educational use. This project addresses critical issues of sustainability in textile and fashion manufacturing by exploring how digital tools can support more efficient, less resource-intensive production methods. Grounded in her practice-based research, the work examines the convergence of physical and virtual spaces, with particular emphasis on the representation of materiality, tangibility, and haptic qualities in digital environments. Her research has been disseminated through high-profile platforms, including Milan Design Week (2023), the British Textile Biennial (2021 & 2023), and Innovate UK KTN’s 2023 event on the Digital Modernisation of Textiles and Fashion.

Membership of Professional Bodies:

Member of the UKFT Graduate Outcomes Working Group
www.ukft.org