Lauren Bowker

"You can do a lot in a day if you use your own initiative."

Incredibly inspiring talk from Lauren Bowker a graduate from TD4F at Manchester...


Found her talk both extremely inspiring and also very thought provoking. Thinking about new technologies and the digital. Her work seems so far away from anything that could be achieved right now and yet all the technology is out there..."the public just isn't ready for it yet" as she put it.

I always seem to think that moving forward into a technology fuelled textile world as a bad thing, I like the handmade and the traditional technique. Lauren has started to sway this view...


Just because we start to use new technologies does not mean the traditional will be forgotten. I like the thought of combining both, using old and new together. This idea is the basis of this project I guess...New School/Old School. Reflecting upon the old and embracing the new.

I was particulary drawn to this video of hers...http://vimeo.com/25403654 
The colour changing feathers incredible, and a good example of new technology combined with hands on making.

SO many points to take from this talk, so I think bullet pointing some of them is the best way -

• Collaborate! It can produce some incredible results

• Not to be afraid of going to explore other departments whilst  studying - could influence and change ways of working

• "Don’t be scared, if you don’t do it someone else will"

• "If something doesn't feel right, it's probably not right"