Tabitha Flexman-Smith
BA (Hons) Textiles in Practice
As a mixed media textile designer, my practice has evolved into a way for me to process the way I view and interact with the world, and as a medium to express that to others. I enjoy working with concepts of identity and memory, and have more recently focused on mental illness and neurodivergency, leaning into ideas of sensory stimulation and relaxation.
My final year body of work has been developed from a very personal perspective with regards to my own mental health and struggles with anxiety and depression. My work has been informed by ideas of well-being and mindfulness, and providing the viewer with something both visually exciting and relaxing. Sensory aspects have been an important element in my work this year and I have considered ways of creating pieces that appeal visually, texturally, and even in an auditory way through the use of embellishment.
Despite digital drawing and manipulation becoming such a core part of my design and making process, hand techniques and tactile designs are really importatnt to me and my practice as a whole. I am strongly inspired by my grandmothers and aunt who taught me to knit and sew, and I want to continue to combine digital with physical design in the future, keeping their knowledge with me and exploring new ways of designing.
