Katie designs tools for engaging communities in social and environmental change. Social design can be defined as ‘participatory approaches to researching, generating and realising new ways to make change happen towards collective and social ends, rather than predominantly commercial objectives’ (from Social Design Futures Report), or applying design methodologies to complex human problems. A lot of this work happens through social enterprises, charities and universities, and Katie works on contracts around the country. A keen lifelong maker, Katie has moved into Southlands to have space for more hands-on making. Working in a range of media, Katie uses making as a method for engaging people in community workshops and often takes her ‘bag of craft’ out and about with her on social design projects. She also enjoys making for family, friends and occasional craft fairs. Katie works a lot with textiles and printmaking, and likes to experiment in mixing materials and methods. Her work is characterised by a strong sensitivity for colour and texture, exploring pattern making and abstract designs. Katie is a lecturer at Leeds Beckett University and has for many years taught at specialist arts summer camp Appel Farm in New Jersey, USA. She has exhibited at the Love Arts Festival in Leeds, a celebration of creativity and mental wellbeing.  

Katie is currently working on ‘slow stitch’ projects, including running workshops with the Friends of Rowntree Park.

In 2021 Katie became the volunteer co-ordinator for Southlands Community Garden - you can find out more about the garden on their Facebook page

Katie is also a musician and music promoter as part of Let's Go Baboon with her partner Stuart. 

Qualifications include: 

BTEC ND Foundation Studies in Art and Design (Lincoln College of Art) 

BA (Hons) Three Dimensional Design (Leeds Metropolitan University)

PGCHE teaching qualification and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Master of Arts by Research ‘Designing the change: a documentation of collaborative community based design practice in Leeds, UK.’ (Leeds Beckett University)

PhD (Pending 2024) Place in social design: Surfacing and working with characteristics of place in social design

Published in early 2023 Katie was a guest editor for a special edition of the Journal of Applied Arts and Health on ‘Well-Making and Making-Well: Craft, Design and Everyday Creativity for Health and Well-Being’. You can find out more about Katie’s article on makerspaces in social design projects here.

Katie’s profile on Design Feminisms Research Group at Northumbria University