Dr Sonja Andrew

Profile

I’m an Associate Professor in the School of Design. I have experienced supervisor status for PhDs at the University of Leeds, and UK and international experience as a PhD examiner. My main areas of teaching and research focus on textiles and fashion and I have a range of experience in UG/MA programme leadership and programme validations.

Responsibilities

  • Deputy Director of Postgraduate Research Studies, School of Design

Research interests

Crossing the disciplines of design, semiotics and narratology, I employ the creative process as a mode of research inquiry. My main research focuses on textile semantics, communication and cultural memory, exploring multi-modality through visual and tactile communication on cloth, and the influence of context on audience/user perception. As a practice-based researcher, my work was selected for an AHRC Image Gallery Award and publication in their book ’Beyond the Trenches, Researching the First World War’ in addition to selection for a range of international exhibitions including an excellence award at the Lausanne to Beijing International Textile Biennial. I review academic papers and publish in the field of textiles and fashion, with two book chapters ‘The Decoded Lab’ and ‘Hybrid Materials:Textile and Paper Intersections’ due for publication in 2025.

I’m currently working on funded projects exploring ‘Arts-Based Approaches to Decolonising Palaeontology’ collaborating with Dr Fiona Gill (School of Earth and Environment) and a range of external partners, and developing new projects with this group to communicate the connections between earth science, textile production and post-consumer textiles to external audiences. I’m a Network Expert in the UKRI NERC funded ‘Back to Baselines in Circular Fashion and Textiles’ research project and also a nominated member of the DARE working group which provides guidance on the strategic direction of the partnership between the University of Leeds and Opera North.

Qualifications

  • PhD, Central Saint Martins
  • MA, Central Saint Martins
  • BA (Hons) Multi-Disciplinary Design
  • FHEA

Professional memberships

  • DARE Working Group (June 2023 onwards)
  • Board of Trustees of the Textile Society (2013-2017)
  • Conference Director for the Textile Society (2013-2017)
  • Fellow of The Higher Education Academy

Student education

I teach a variety of subjects across textiles, fashion and visual/material studies. I deliver teaching to first and final year undergraduates and supervise MA and PhD students. 

Current postgraduate researchers

Postgraduate research opportunities

We welcome enquiries from motivated and qualified applicants from all around the world who are interested in PhD study. Our research opportunities allow you to search for projects and scholarships.