Sarah has worked in the creative industries for over 12 years as a designer, maker, and freelancer. She moved into her current role as a sustainability researcher and consultant after undertaking a Master’s degree in sustainable practices, motivated by the need to make changes that better support the long-term sustainability of the textiles industry.
Her ongoing work now explores circular economy principles, alongside environmental and social sustainability, with a focus on design led research and systems change for sustainable futures. For the last 8 years she has worked closely with artist, businesses and academic institutions to educate and identify innovation opportunities in response to current environmental challenges, supporting the development of new technologies, products, and services.
Sarah’s most recent projects include a collaborative partnership with London based design-researcher Robert Johnson, director of Ficta Studios, exploring material uses for waste products derived from the waste fat economy. She is also leading a challenge program in collaboration with STEAMhouse Birmingham and HS2 to explore creative approach to waste in the urban construction industry.
She has recently curated two exhibitions, one at the Midlands Art Centre as part of the Design Museum's Waste Age show. Entitled Rubbish Redesigned, this show explores the use of circular and regenerative practices by artists and designers across the West Midlands in response to local waste streams. The other was a pop-up at Dundee Design Festival, entitled the House of Wellbeing, which explored the use of Biomaterials for the future sustainable home and included a selection of 52 different bio-based material samples as part of the materials library installation.
