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Associate Professor Deb Cumming

Associate Professor

School of Design

Deb Cumming's research interests in adaptive fashion design processes has faciliated design projects using apparel drape methods and new technologies in one-piece pattern development. Recent exhibitions at Shapeshifting conference held by AUT Auckland, NZ and Wool Collection Interior
s exhibition UK Campaign for Wool, London, showed examples of this ongoing innovative research which looks to future technologies with sustainable considerations. Alongside this Cumming carries out contract design work . A recent example is a design team project which developed new academic gowns for Massey University senior officers with a brief to reflect biculturalism, academic traditions and creative futures. In a current collaborative project with a social firm Cumming facilitates design research through focus groups and co-creative workshops exploring  pattern design and production with alternative processes for upcycling apparel design.  Cumming also contributes a design perspective to cross disciplinary research with colleagues in the area of apparel marketing with focus on changing consumer and retaller perspectives in secondhand clothing as presented at recent annual ANZMAC conferences.

Deb Cumming is a fashion designer, researcher and academic who has strong research interests in adaptive fashion design processes in a social context. She has specialized expertise in apparel design technical development including exploration in alternative pattern and drape processes. Cumming teaches across undergraduate and postgraduate levels. 

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Professional

Prizes and Awards

  • 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)
  • Hijab Design nominated for the prestigious Royal Society Te Apārangi’s Tahunui-a Rangi award - New Zealand Royal Society (2022)

Research Expertise

Research Interests

Fashion Design and adaptive technologies

Alternative Drape and pattern processes

Thematics

Design – for Commerce, Community and Culture

Area of Expertise

Field of research codes
Built Environment And Design (120000): Design Practice and Management (120300): Textile and Fashion Design (120306)

Keywords

Alternative Apparel pattern design

Fashion design, Drape and Patternmaking 

Colonial New Zealand Sports Dress 

Adaptive technologies

Research Projects

Summary of Research Projects

Position Current Completed
Principal Investigator / First Named Investigator / Science Leader 1 0
Project Leader 0 2

Research Outputs

Journal

Cumming, D., & Weaver, N. (2019). One-piece pattern cutting: contoured active-wear. International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology and Education. 12(2019), 261-271 Retrieved from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17543266.2019.1587790
[Journal article]Authored by: Cumming, D., Weaver, N.
Cumming, D. (2017). A case study engaging design for textile upcycling. Journal of Textile Design Research and Practice. , 113-128 Retrieved from http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/rftd20
[Journal article]Authored by: Cumming, D.

Creative Work

Cumming, D. (2022). Senior Women’s Mess Kit capsule collection.. New Zealand
[Design]Authored by: Cumming, D.
Cumming, D., & Weaver, N. (2021). Operational Hijab (Commercialized garments) Corrections Department. New Zealand: Corrections Department
[Design]Authored by: Cumming, D.
Cumming, D., & Weaver, N. (2021). Operational Hijab (Commercialized garments). New Zealand
[Design]Authored by: Cumming, D.
Cumming, D., & Weaver, N. (2021). Operational Hijab (Design, pattern, and prototype design lease for European manufacture) Home Office UK. United Kingdom
[Design]Authored by: Cumming, D.
Cumming, D., & Weaver, N. (2020). NZ Police Operational Hijab. New Zealand
[Design]Authored by: Cumming, D., Weaver, N.
Cumming, D. (2018). Unified Uniform Project :Design uniform consultancy.
[Design]Authored by: Cumming, D.
Cumming, D., & McQuillan, H. (2018). zero+one ( 3 coat designs: 4 printed pattern images, booklet). ODASA Building, Adelaide: Unmaking Waste Conference, University of South Australia GPO Box 2471, Adelaide South Australia 5001
[Design]Authored by: Cumming, D.
Cumming, D., & Weaver, N. (2016). oneP-active. Massey University Te Ara Hihiko Building, Wellington, New Zealand: End of Fashion Conference
[Design]Authored by: Cumming, D., Weaver, N.
Cumming, D., & Weaver, N. (2016). Nature, energy and movement for new apparel design. Te Ara Hihiko, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand: Costume and Textile Association New Zealand
[Design]Authored by: Cumming, D., Weaver, N.
Cumming, D., & Weaver, N. (2015). Earthlink Upcycled Childrenswear. Wingate, Lower Hutt, Wellington
[Design]Authored by: Cumming, D., Weaver, N.
Cumming, D., & Weaver, N. (2014). Flight. One-oh-Eight Gallery, Ironbank Building, Auckland, New Zealand: Shapeshifting Conference, Auckland University of Technology
[Design]Authored by: Cumming, D., Weaver, N.
Cumming, D., & Weaver, N. (2014). oneP-wings. Southwark Cathedral London, United Kingdom: Global Wool Collections Interior Exhibition
[Design]Authored by: Cumming, D., Weaver, N.
Cumming, D. (2014). Earthlink childrenswear pattern development. Wingate, Lower Hutt, Wellington
[Design]Authored by: Cumming, D.
Cumming, D., & Whitty, J. (2014). Earthlink Childrens' wear Design Consultancy. Earthlink Incorporated, Wingate, Lower Hutt, Wellington
[Design]Authored by: Cumming, D.
Cumming, D., & Whitty, J. (2014). Earthlink childrenswear Design consultancy. Wingate, Lower Hutt, Wellington
[Design]Authored by: Cumming, D.
Cumming, D., & Whitty, J. (2013). Earthlink childrenswear design consultancy. Wingate, Lower Hutt, Wellington
[Design]Authored by: Cumming, D.
Cumming, D., Prescott, S., Imlach, ME., & Hemera, R. (2013). Massey University Principal Officers Academic Regalia. Bruce Mason Centre, Auckland, New Zealand: Massey University
[Design]Authored by: Cumming, D.

Conference

Cumming, D. (2019, March). Transitioning the new:creative pattern cutting. Presented at Fluid Fashion Symposium. Dunedin Art Gallery, Dunedin.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Cumming, D.
Cumming, D. (2015). Earthlink: Upcycling corporate to children’s apparel. Unmaking Waste 2015 conference proceedings. (pp. 628 - 636). : Unmaking Waste: Transforming production and consumption in time and place
[Conference Paper in Published Proceedings]Authored by: Cumming, D.
Cumming, D. (2015, April). One piece one body. Presented at Context of Fashion: Materiality and the Body Conference. Dunedin, New Zealand.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Cumming, D.
Balasubramanian, R., Cumming, DM., Webster, J., & Peter, R. (2014, December). Consumer Perspectives of the Second-hand Apparel Market in New Zealand - An Exploratory Study. Presented at Australian and New Zealand Marketing Academy Conference. Brisbane.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Cumming, D., Peter, R.
Balasubramanian, R., Cumming, DM., Webster, J., & Peter, R. (2014). Consumer perspectives of the second-hand apparel market in New Zealand - an exploratory study. Proceedings ANZMAC Annual Conference 2014. (pp. 346 - 352). Brisbane, Australai: Australian and New Zealand Marketing Academy Conference
[Conference Paper in Published Proceedings]Authored by: Cumming, D., Peter, R.
Balasubramanian, R., Cumming, D., Webster, J., & Peter, R. (2014). Consumer perspectives of the second-hand apparel market in New Zealand - an exploratory study. In RT. Sharyn, K. Krzysztof, & A. Denni (Eds.) Proceedings ANZMAC Annual Conference 2014. (pp. 346 - 352). Brisbane, Australia: Australian and New Zealand Marketing Academy Conference
[Conference Paper in Published Proceedings]Authored by: Cumming, D., Peter, R.
Webster, J., Cumming, D., Balasubramanian, R., & Peter, R. (2012). Second-hand clothing market in New Zealand: An exploratory study of retailer perspectives. In R. Lee (Ed.) Australia New Zealand Marketing Academy Conference 2012 Proceedings. (pp. 1 - 7). Australia: Australian and New Zealand Marketing Academy Conference [ANZMAC 2012]: Sharing the Cup of Knowledge
[Conference Paper in Published Proceedings]Authored by: Cumming, D., Peter, R.
Balasubramanian, R., Webster, J., Cumming, D., & Peter, R. (2012). Second-hand clothing market in New Zealand – An exploratory study of retailer perspectives. Australian & New Zealand marketing Academy 2012 Proceedings. (pp. 1 - 7). Ehrenberg-Bass Institute for Marketing Science: Australian and New Zealand Marketing Academy Conference
[Conference Paper in Published Proceedings]Authored by: Cumming, D.

Consultancy and Languages

Consultancy

  • 2013-2015 - Earthlink
    Social firm upcycling corporate apparel to children wear

Teaching and Supervision

Summary of Doctoral Supervision

Position Current Completed
Co-supervisor 5 1

Current Doctoral Supervision

Co-supervisor of:

  • Dongdong Zhang - Doctor of Philosophy
    Embodied experience - A fashion design method based on drawing, movement ,and sensation
  • 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
  • Zewei Li - Doctor of Philosophy
    Mobius Band: An innovative pattern design method toward inclusive zero textile waste apparel
  • Rekha Shailaj - Doctor of Philosophy
    Constructing new from old: the zero-waste method within a hierarchial fashion system

Completed Doctoral Supervision

Co-supervisor of:

  • 2022 - ~ Shaik Areef - Doctor of Philosophy
    Slot n’ Slide - A Concept Design for a Life Jacket for Flood Events in India