Lynn-Sayers McHattie

Professor Lynn-Sayers McHattie is a leading academic at The Glasgow School of Art’s School of Innovation and Technology, holding dual roles as a Professor and Senior Researcher. She specializes in design-led innovation, particularly in the intersection of craft practices, cultural assets, and socio-cultural renewal. Her research focuses on Indigenous communities, geographically distributed island cultures, and the political economy of craft. She has led major grants including AHRC-funded projects on Design Innovation & Land Assets (DI&L) and the Royal Society of Edinburgh’s ‘Craft Futures’ initiative.

Education: Holds an AHRC-funded PhD in Design from The Glasgow School of Art. Teaching roles include coordinating PhD programs and leading the Master of Research (M.Res.), which emphasizes design-led methodologies. She supervises seven current PhD students and has guided four completions, spanning topics like Borneo’s Indigenous Innovation and Shetland’s craft heritage.

Research Interests: Her work explores textiles as ‘knowledge artefacts,’ linking material culture to identity and landscape. She investigates how design can foster community resilience and cultural preservation. Recent articles highlight collaborations with museums, youth engagement in heritage contexts, and landscape decision-making frameworks.

Awards & Affiliations: AHRC Peer Review College member, Craft Scotland Trustee, and Visiting Professor at Belfast School of Art. Her work is featured in journals like CoDesign and Landscape Research.

Grants & Projects: Principal Investigator on UKRI Strategic Priorities Programme projects, British Council collaborations, and initiatives like ‘Design Innovation for New Growth.’ Her research often involves cross-cultural exchanges, such as projects in Borneo and Scotland’s Northern Isles.