Ruth Eaton

Lecturer
Contextualising Practice

­Ruth is a Lecturer in Contextualising Practice, working across Manchester School of Art and is the DELTA (Digitally Enhanced Learning Teaching and Assessment) Lead for Arts and Performance.

Interested in the everyday nature of online communication and participation, her research explores social commentary shared on social media with a focus on wearer/user perspective, function of clothing and the gendered nature of dress.

She holds the following degree: BA (Hons) International Fashion Practice, Manchester Fashion Institute, Manchester Metropolitan University (2016) and is currently completing a PhD at Manchester Fashion Institute titled ‘Thanks. It has Pockets! The pocket seen through social commentary on Twitter (2006-2021).

Research expertise: Social Media, Clothing and Dress; Gender; Clothing Design, Function and User Experience of Clothing; Online Participation; Online Communities of Practice. Generative AI. Qualitative analysis including NVivo.

Ruth is Creative Director of Spoon Studio, a very slow clothing brand that produces made to order clothing and textile installations in response to fellow makers and creatives.

Technical expertise: Pattern Cutting; Clothing and Costume Construction; Textile Installations.

With broad experience of interdisciplinary teaching across multiple programmes and departments, incorporating industry experience in fashion communication and business modules. Research led teaching: Contextualising fashion, social media and identity; The pertinent issues of power, consumption, online participation and critical thinking; Critical and curious use of Generative AI.

Industry Experience (20 years): Managing change projects; Brand and retail launches for clothing and non-food retail; Broad range of leadership, project and people management experience; Specialist in employment law and policy creation.

Communities of Practice:
AI and Education Arts & Humanities Community of Practice (AI and Ed CoP)
Digital Me SIG