Jessica Bugg

Research Summary: Jessica’s transdisciplinary practice led research explores the agency of dress in the context of performance, art, curation and film, interrogating the performative dynamic between designer, wearer and viewer.  The research is concerned with phenomenological/ experience of dress to inform the development of embodied methods for clothing design and communication working in the site of the body. Drawing on physical experience, memory, cognition, haptic and sensory perception she collaborates with wearers, other artists and audiences to heighten and understand and develop communication through design.

Biography: Jessica Bugg is Dean of the School of Media and Communication, London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London. Previously she was Associate Dean Research and Innovation in the School of Fashion and Textiles at RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia and the Excellence in Research Australia (ERA) and Impact and Engagement Leader, College of Design and Social Context, RMIT University 2017-2018.

She holds a PhD from the London College of Fashion UAL (2006) and is an interdisciplinary practitioner and researcher. With twenty five years interdisciplinary leadership, teaching and research experience in graduate and post graduate education she has led, developed and validated academic provision across the disciplines of Fashion Design, Design for Performance and Fashion Media and Communication and is an experienced PhD supervisor and examiner. Jessica holds positions on editorial boards, publishes extensively, reviews for high profile journals, external research submissions and is on steering committees including the Critical Costume International bi annual conference.

As a visual artist working with fashion, performance, art, film and curation, Jessica’s practice lead research is concerned with the lived experience of dress and developing embodied methods for clothing design and communication in the site of the body. Drawing on physical experience, memory, cognition, haptic and sensory perception she collaborates with wearers, artists and audiences to heighten and understand communication through dress and the body. Her work has been screened and performed in venues including the ICA, ACMI Australian Centre for Moving Image and Berlin Fashion Week. She has curated significant exhibitions including Fashion & Performance: Materiality, Meaning, Media at the Design Hub Galleries, Melbourne 2015 and for the Arnhem Mode Biennale 2013.  Her designs for contemporary dance have been performed at venues including the Queen Elizabeth Hall the Linbury Space, Royal Opera House and The Place. 

Optical Laces in movement, (Bugg) 2014, Rene Lindell photographer.