Carolyn Hardaker

Carolyn Hardaker is a Principal Lecturer and Associate Head of Department in the School of Fashion and Textiles at De Montfort University (DMU), Leicester. With a strong background in Computer Aided Design (CAD), she has been contributing to academic and pedagogical advancements in fashion and textiles since joining DMU in 1989.

Her educational background includes a BSc(Hons) in Engineering Science and Management from Durham University and an MPhil in Computer Aided Design from Loughborough University. She also holds a PG Dip in Computer Aided Design from Lanchester Polytechnic.

Carolyn's research and expertise center on the application of CAD in fashion and textiles, with specific focus on garment pattern design, grading for lingerie, 3D footwear modeling, visual merchandising, and the use of design software such as Photoshop and Illustrator within a fashion context. She is deeply involved in enhancing CAD pedagogy through the development of supportive e-learning resources.

She has led significant projects, including a Higher Education Academy (HEA)-funded initiative to create screencasts for CAD teaching and a British Council FEED-IN project fostering collaboration between De Montfort University and Izmir University of Economics through joint student work. These efforts highlight her commitment to innovative teaching and international academic partnerships.

Scientific Awards:

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Carolyn teaches across several programs, including BA(Hons) Contour Fashion, BA(Hons) Fashion Buying, BA(Hons) Footwear Design, and the MA in Fashion and Textiles. She plays a key role in curriculum development, particularly in integrating digital tools into design education. While there is no public mention of PhD or Master’s students she may have advised, her leadership in pedagogical research suggests a strong mentorship role in academic development.

She is actively involved in professional development and industry collaboration, having worked on government and EU-funded studies and co-developed training materials and short courses with industry partners. Her work bridges academic instruction with real-world design applications.