Lucy E. Dunne

Lucy E. Dunne is a Professor in the Department of Design, Housing, and Apparel at the College of Design, University of Minnesota. She serves as Program Director of Apparel Design and Co-Director of the Wearable Technology Lab.

Specialties: Apparel Design, Functional Apparel, Smart Clothing, and Wearable Technology.

Her research explores wearability and garment-based wearable technology, focusing on new functionality in apparel, human-device interfaces, production and manufacturing, and human factors in wearable products. She investigates the intersection of fashion, engineering, and technology to create innovative clothing solutions for diverse applications, including sportswear and space suits.

Notably, her co-authored book Functional Apparel Design: From Sportswear to Space Suits (2015) highlights her expertise in functional clothing design for extreme environments. The book reflects her interdisciplinary approach to integrating technology into apparel.

• National Science Foundation CAREER award for groundbreaking work in functional clothing research.
• NASA Silver Achievement Medal for contributions to wearable technology.

Dunne's academic leadership extends to advising students in apparel design and wearable technology. Her research is supported by grants from the National Science Foundation and collaborations with NASA, underscoring her role in advancing functional clothing through interdisciplinary efforts.

As Co-Director of the Wearable Technology Lab, she develops clothing with integrated technology to enhance wearability and functionality, addressing challenges in comfort, usability, and technological integration.