Who got that job?

Emily Quinn, teaching fellow in visual studies, Heriot-Watt University Job advertised in The Times Higher, August 5, 2005

Emily Quinn has fallen in love with cashmere. She discovered it - expensive, soft and luxuriant - in the final year of her degree in textiles at Edinburgh College of Art. She developed techniques to print designs on to the cloth, which is made from the fibres of Kashmir goat fleeces.

Ms Quinn's collection was an instant hit at the New Designers graduate fair in London. She has since had a steady flow of commissions from leading fashion labels and high-profile clients.

She was recently appointed teaching fellow in visual studies at the School of Textiles and Design at Heriot-Watt University's Galashiels campus. Ms Quinn learnt of the vacancy when her own company hired print rooms at the school to print a bespoke length of fabric for a suite at the Dorchester Hotel in London.

"I'd been thinking about teaching, but with two young children, I didn't want to commute from Galashiels to Edinburgh. The School of Textiles is a short distance across town from home, so with the help of three nurseries and childminders it's great."

Much of Ms Quinn's time is spent teaching students the basics of design, including how to research projects, getting them to make sketch books, exploring collage-making, teaching observation skills and problem-solving.

She is also keen for her students to gain experience outside. "I particularly want to get collaborative projects with industry, so students can get placements, and I'm keen to encourage strong links with industry for researching print techniques," she said.