Contact details +6449793678
Associate Professor Deb Cumming
Associate Professor
School of DesignMy research portfolio is aligned with sustainable fashion design and inclusive design practice with social and cultural impact. My practice-based research investigates the development of innovative one-piece pattern design disrupting conventions of traditional apparel design production. One-piece pattern design can be utilised as a sustainable practice to address textile waste, minimise apparel production, and facilitate post-consumer regeneration design. This research has been profiled in national and international symposiums and exhibitions, and is useful serving postgraduate PHD and MDes supervisions and examinations.
Inclusive apparel design research has led to design consultancy, national and international commercial product development. An Operational Hijab design was developed to meet the needs of Muslim New Zealand policewomen to promote positive action for inclusion, respect and identity within the organization. Further samples fhave been developed for UK Leistershire Police, Victoria Police, Queensland Police, Hamburg Police, Canadian Border Security, Canadian Police, NZ Department of Corrections, NZ St Johns Ambulance. This design has been requested for three national museum archives. This design work was awarded 2021 50 most influential projects and 4th most influential project in the Asia-Pacific region by Project management Institute of New York. The hijab design was awarded the prestigious Royal Society Te Apārangi’s Tahunui-a Rangi award. Other contract work commissioned by New Zealand Police, involved the development of national Mess Kit designs, formal uniform for senior New Zealand Policewomen. Design development of this capsule uniform collection offered new contemporary design choices and inclusive fit for women. Both these research outcomes have generated income to fund other projects, student scholarship and increase income for a design manufacturing business, a locally owned apparel company by Massey design graduate.
Deb Cumming is a fashion researcher and academic. Her research is aligned with inclusive and sustainable fashion design practice with technical design applications that address broader social and cultural issues.
The central focus of her research is alternative apparel design pattern methods. Practice-based research investigates the development of one-piece pattern design through adaptive drape and digital technologies to advance apparel design and manufacturing processes. Research areas extend to commercial application with design consultancy, and product development.
Current academic practices move across both undergraduate and postgraduate fashion and design fields, creative practice-led, or research by project degrees.
Professional
Prizes and Awards
- Hijab Design nominated for the prestigious Royal Society Te Apārangi’s Tahunui-a Rangi award - New Zealand Royal Society (2022)
- Hijab design work was awarded the 50 most influential projects in the world and 4th most influential project in the Asia-Pacific region - Project management Institute of New York. (2021)
- Operational Hijab design was a finalist in NZ Best Awards for Public Good - Designers Institute of New Zealand (2021)
Research Expertise
Research Interests
Fashion Design and adaptive technologies
Alternative Drape and pattern processes
Inclusive Design
Thematics
Design – for Commerce, Community and Culture, Health and Well-being
Area of Expertise
Field of research codes
Built Environment And Design (120000):
Design Innovation (120302):
Design Management and Studio and Professional Practice (120303):
Design Practice and Management (120300):
Textile and Fashion Design (120306)
Keywords
Inclusive and sustainable Apparel Design
Alternative Apparel pattern design technology
Fashion design, Drape and Patternmaking
Colonial New Zealand Sports Dress
Research Outputs
Journal
[Journal article]Authored by: Cumming, D., Kane, F.
[Journal article]Authored by: Cumming, D., Kane, F.
[Journal article]Authored by: Cumming, D.
[Journal article]Authored by: Cumming, D.
[Journal article]Authored by: Cumming, D.
Creative Work
[Exhibition]Authored by: Cumming, D.
[Design]Authored by: Cumming, D.
[Design]Authored by: Cumming, D.
[Exhibition]Authored by: Cumming, D.
[Exhibition]Authored by: Cumming, D.
Conference
[Conference]Authored by: Cumming, D.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Cumming, D.
[Conference Paper in Published Proceedings]Authored by: Cumming, D.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Cumming, D.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Cumming, D.
Consultancy and Languages
Consultancy
-
2021- current
- New Zealand Police
Designs for uniform -
2018-2019
- Fire and Emergency NZ
Unified uniform project -
2013-2015
- Earthlink
Social firm upcycling corporate apparel to children wear
Teaching and Supervision
Summary of Doctoral Supervision
| Position | Current | Completed |
|---|---|---|
| Co-supervisor | 6 | 2 |
Current Doctoral Supervision
Co-supervisor of:
-
Ying Luo
-
Doctor of Philosophy
Designing with Sustainable Material Alternatives to Leather -
Naduni Hewawelege
-
Doctor of Philosophy
Designing Activewear for Gender Inclusion and Diversity -
Dongdong Zhang
-
Doctor of Philosophy
Exploring Chinese Fashion Designers’ Well-being and the Creative Benefits Gained through Generative Design Tools -
Hongyi Xiao
-
Doctor of Philosophy
Multi-Form Garment Design: Exploring Inclusive Fit, Multifunctional Wear, and Material Alterations for Dynamic Body Compatibility and human demand -
Yitong Zheng
-
Doctor of Philosophy
Speculative Virtual Fashion: Adaptive Clothing Related to Global Climate Change - view more...
Completed Doctoral Supervision
Co-supervisor of:
-
2025
-
Zewei Li
-
Doctor of Philosophy
Mobius Band: Establishing Motion Trajectory Techniques to Form Woven Apparel in a Dynamic 3D Space -
2022
-
~ Shaik Areef
-
Doctor of Philosophy
Slot n’ Slide - A Concept Design for a Life Jacket for Flood Events in India