Research Associate in Knitwear Design

The Royal College of Art is seeking a Research Associate in Knitwear Design to join the School of Design for a 3-month project. This role involves creating innovative children's wear and modular knitted pieces as part of a collaborative research project. You will be responsible for fabricating digitally designed swatches, refining signature Petit Pli patterns, and constructing various garments. The successful candidate will work closely with the Principal Investigator (PI) and contribute to project management, research outputs, and engagement with industry partners.
Key Responsibilities
+ Design and fabricate digitally knitted swatches in various machine gauges.
+ Develop and refine knitting techniques for children's wear, focusing on top and bottom garments.
+ Create digital cutting patterns and modular accessories (e.g., socks, gloves, hoods).
+ Collaborate with the team to ensure efficient resource management and delivery of project outcomes.
+ Contribute to project documentation, reports, and dissemination through academic and public channels.
+ Ensure compliance with research ethics, RCA policies, and data protection standards.

+ Master's degree in Fashion/Knitwear or significant knitting experience; or a BA in Textiles/Fashion with equivalent industry experience.
+ Demonstrated experience in creating high-quality knitted artefacts and outputs.
+ Strong research background in both digital and manual knitted fabric design.
+ Excellent communication and collaboration skills in interdisciplinary settings.
+ Experience in producing creative practice outputs and contributing to research projects.
+ Knowledge of research ethics, data integrity, and textile research methods.
Interviews - 25/10/24 or 28/10/24

RCA Benefits available here: https://www.rca.ac.uk/more/work-at-the-rca/staff-benefits/
The Royal College of Art (RCA) aims to foster an inclusive culture which promotes equality, values diversity and maintains a working, learning and social environment in which the rights and dignity of all its staff and students and stakeholders are respected.
We recognise the broad range of experiences that a diverse staff and student body brings and how this strengthens our research and enhances our teaching. In order for RCA to remain a world-leading institution we are committed to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) principles throughout all of our processes, from application through to appointment.
Please tell us if you need any assistance in applying or if you need the information in a different format. In your message to resourcing@rca.ac.uk include