Rachel Kelly

Rachel Kelly is a Reader in Design Education at Manchester School of Art, Manchester Metropolitan University, serving as International Lead for Design and Specialist Academic Lead for MA/MSc Textiles. Her academic journey includes a BA in Printed Textile Design from Leeds College of Art and an MA in Design for Textile Futures from Central St Martins College of Art and Design, supplemented by postgraduate qualifications in Higher Education.

Her research explores sustainable design practice and international collaboration in higher education, focusing on circular economies and cultural preservation. Current projects include British Council Crafting Futures initiatives in the Philippines and China that integrate traditional weaving with digital technologies. Her work emphasizes ethical internationalization through Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) frameworks.

Publications demonstrate consistent focus on participatory design and pedagogical innovation, with recent work examining hybrid textile communities and collaborative evaluation models. Research consistently bridges material culture with digital transformation.

Professional recognition includes external examiner roles at University of Wales Trinity St David and consultancy for sustainable craft development. Her studio practice includes commissions for the Armitt Museum and Ruthin Craft Centre, with works featured at MoMA New York.

She leads interdisciplinary teams for the Making Matters China Design Challenge, creating platforms for circular design education. As member of the Design Research Hub, she develops visual models supporting collaborative textile pedagogy.