Karen Ryan

Karen is a designer and academic working to bridge consumer marketing theory, industry practice and fashion design through multidisciplinary & practice-led research.

Karen is highly committed and engaged in HE quality assurance processes (internal and external) including external examining and re-validation/periodic reviews, learning and teaching quality committee, assessment committee, equalities committee and industrial liaison group in my previous post at the Arts University Bournemouth. Karen currently serves as an academic representative at the University of Portsmouth’s Academic Council.

Karen’s research interests stem from a lifelong interest in considerate design combined with an educational interest in developing a creative conscience in relation to fashion innovation and production, manufacture, marketing and the supply chain. With a keen eye on the strategic trends of the future, including the circular economy, ethics and identity, sustainable development and behavioural sciences.

She is also co-lead of the Fashion, Textiles and Material Futures Research and Innovation Group at the University of Portsmouth and a founding member of the research group AUB Human at the Arts University Bournemouth and is a regular reviewer for the Journal of Global Fashion Marketing. 

A senior academic with responsibilities as course leader, academic counsellor and personal tutor teaching MA Fashion Marketing with specialisms in fashion branding, marketing and communication, contextual studies/dissertation and industry practice. And a background teaching both undergraduate and postgraduate fashion design, textiles and marekting/communication courses.

With substantial professional knowledge and experience in fashion design and product development Karen has been able to implement a combination of experience in the fashion industry with academic research supporting industry practice and graduate experience; sharing contemporary knowledge and expertise in circularity and sustainable design, contextualising current fashion theory and developing creativity and innovation supporting student success.