Angela Devoti

Senior Lecturer

Digital, Tech, Innovation & Business

Angela graduated from Manchester School of Art - Manchester Metropolitan University, BA (Hons) Fashion in 2002. She has worked as an independent fashion designer, designing, and producing capsule collections for independent boutiques and for a private clientele. Her work included experimental approaches to creative pattern cutting methods along with designing her own print designs using traditional silk screen printing.

In 2005 Angela started her career in education, teaching BA (Hons) Fashion at The University of Salford and Manchester Metropolitan University. In 2007, she gained a PGCE in Post Compulsory Education. She was responsible for delivering Design and Fashion Illustration to all year cohorts. Further duties included designing and undertaking widening participation activities across the Northwest. She was also a dissertation supervisor at Manchester Metropolitan University, and she supported the academic teams during recruitment, live competitions, and Graduate Fashion Weeks in London.

With over 15 years working in education her teaching experience has been expansive, and includes writing, managing, and leading fashion courses and working across different programme levels. She also has a long track record of successfully mentoring new lecturers.

Over the years, Angela has enjoyed collaborating with academics across the art and design field and has been a keen guest speaker contributing to other undergraduate programs. She has been involved in numerous scholarship activities including, organising exhibitions, pop up galleries and fashion shows through to contributing to projects relating to fashion sustainability and historical and creative heritage.

In 2019 Angela joined the team as a Design and Visualisation Lecturer on the BA (Hons) Fashion course here at University of Staffordshire. She teaches across a variety of modules including Design, Visualisation and History and Theory of Fashion.

She has a strong interest in interdisciplinary working methodologies and continues to foster new ways of exploring and experimenting with a wide range of material and process.

She was awarded a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in 2021.

Professional memberships and activities

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
The Association of Dress Historians

Academic qualifications

MA Fashion - University of Staffordshire - 2023
PGCE - MMU - 2007
BA (Hons) Fashion - 2002

Expertise

Fashion Design
History and Theory of Art and Design/Fashion
Fashion Illustration
Printed Textiles
Image Making & Styling

Research interests

The transformative and performative function of drawing in art and design
The lived experience of dress and the intersection of the materiality of fashion, culture and social relationships
Fashion illustration for contemporary image making

Enterprise and commercial interests

External Collaborations

Glad Higher Education Conference - University of Nottingham – 2025

How the practice of using artefacts and drawing in creative learning and teaching enables students to engage in an immersive, multi-sensory and holistic learning experience, that is transformative, enriching artistic sensibilities, imagination and personal wellbeing.

Roots to Fashion – The Betty Smithers Design Collection Exhibition – In collaboration with Callister Trust & The Williamson Art Gallery, Liverpool – 2025

Curated exhibition showcasing specially selected garments and accessories from The Betty Smithers Design Collection, University of Staffordshire, to commemorate the centenary anniversary of Callister Garden now (Callister Trust).

Roots to Fashion – The Betty Smithers Design Collection Lecture & Seminar – In collaboration with Callister Trust, The Williamson Art Gallery, Liverpool – 2025

Lecture and seminar relating to the garments and accessories from the Betty Smithers Design Collection exhibition. The lecture and seminar revealed varying narratives, signifying moments in time of lived body experience, forming a collective inspirational statement of liberation and freedom of expression.

Fashion Illustration Master Class – 2025 – BA (Hons) Fashion - Liverpool John Moores University

Lecture and practical workshop exploring the interdisciplinary approaches of Fashion Illustration in the development of contemporary fashion communication.

Fashion Ecologies Project- 2017- 2018 – Research Associate

The supportive research role with Fashion Ecologies - UAL London College of Fashion - Centre of Sustainability, included gathering and analysing how individuals dress and shop for fashion. Through drawing together different viewpoints and actions, cultivated further awareness to localism as a core direction to sustainability change in fashion.

Gothic Manchester Festival - 2017- Fashion Show Assistant Curator

Outdoor catwalk show, Exchange Square Manchester, presenting the pervasive influence of Goth sensibilities in traditional and contemporary fashion. In association with the Sophie Lancaster Foundation, We Stand Together Campaign, Manchester Metropolitan University and Selfridges.

Fashion Illustration Master Class – 2018 - BA (Hons) Fashion - University of Central Lancashire

Fashion Illustration workshop delivered to undergraduate BA (Hons) Fashion students, exploring experimental drawing and creative mixed media.

Sound - Track – Charles Roe House Macclesfield - 2016 - Event Director

In collaboration with Incubation Arts, Stephen Morris of New Order and Dave Haslam, DJ and author. An immersive exhibition was curated to support fund raising towards the renovation of Charles Roe House into an Arts and Cultural Centre and a permanent exhibition space for the iconic music of Joy Division/New Order. The exhibition combined a collection of artists, designers and musicians work from the Manchester music scene alongside emerging artists and students work from the local area. The event also included live panel talks with Stephen Morris and Dave Haslam.

World Skills UK- Birmingham GMEX Centre – 2012 – Presenter and Exhibitor

Development of a live interactive and experimental drawing exhibition and presentation, supporting experiential learning and knowledge transfer centred on the relevance of hand drawing in relation to the fashion design process.

Teaching

Design & Technology
Marketing & Communication
Fashion & Textiles
Critical & Contextual Studies

angela.devoti@staffs.ac.uk