Cross disciplinary collaboration as a prerequisite for sustainable development in textile design

At VIA University College we are encouraged to initiate cross disciplinary modules. Simultaneously, we experience that one of the biggest challenges of working with sustainable development of the field of textiles is that it is a rather complex subject area. It is dominated by wicked problems with no true or false solutions, and it is difficult to avoid greenwashing. This is partly caused by the need to radically change the existing value chain as well as the consume and use patterns. Therefore, it is necessary to combine deep disciplinary expertise with cross disciplinary teamwork, and we need to fully acknowledge this in our teaching.

To initiate the discussion, I use a common module between second year textile design and nurse students as an exemplary case. The textile designers were asked to design non-disposable aprons for hospitals and caretaking involving the nurses as an expert group. Textile designers worked full time over three weeks and the nurses were given 8-10 lessons over the period of time. This was indeed very different conditions and not what we dreamt of from the outset. Nevertheless, both groups expressed a high degree of disciplinary learning pointing to the cross disciplinary collaboration as a means for that. In the presentation I will reflect on cross disciplinary collaboration as a prerequisite for sustainable development inviting to a discussion of ways in which we can secure mutual understanding across fields and professions that acknowledges disciplinary expertise.