Our Faculty

Lindsay Norris – Program Chair 

Lindsay is an alumna of Kwantlen Polytechnic University, where she obtained a Bachelor in Applied Design in Fashion. For the past 15 years, she has dedicated her career to teaching in the field of Design. Her area of expertise lies in technical outerwear and soft product development. Throughout her professional journey, she has collaborated with numerous local companies, making significant contributions to the design and development of various soft products. Lindsay excels in creating articulation for sport and movement, while also conducting extensive research and development activities.

Driven by her passion for continuous learning and professional growth, Lindsay is currently pursuing an MBA in Sustainable Fashion Management at SUMAS University in Gland, Switzerland. Her primary goal is to deepen her understanding of sustainable practices within the technical apparel industry, and subsequently apply this knowledge to enhance her teaching and design endeavors.

Lindsay's commitment to combining design and sustainability in the realm of soft products is evident in both her academic pursuits and professional contributions. She actively incorporates eco-conscious principles into her teaching and design projects, consistently promoting a more sustainable approach to the field of soft product design.

Research Interests: Development of various soft products, sustainability, green marketing, technical apparel production, and new materials

Lahiru Aluth Gedara - Faculty 

Lahiru Aluth Gedara graduated from the University of Moratuwa in Sri Lanka with a Bachelor of Design in Fashion Design & Product Development. He is an apparel designer and innovator specializing in technical sportswear. Additionally, he holds a Master of Arts in Digital Fashion & Apparel Design from the University of the Arts London in the UK. Lahiru believes in the power of design to create products that harmonize sophisticated design, cutting-edge technologies, and craftsmanship, resulting in new experiences that simplify and empower lives of all ages and stages. Currently, he is working towards an MBA at University Canada West in Vancouver. With a professional career spanning over a decade, Lahiru has collaborated with several global sportswear brands, including Nike, Lululemon, and New Balance, to co-create highly successful technical sportswear products during his tenure as a design manager at MAS Holdings, a global leader in technical sportswear development.

Research Interests: Include integration of design and material science to elevate sports performance, inclusive design, and functional textile applications as support systems to improve physical wellness.

Jessica Bayntun - (Maternity Leave)

Jessica Bayntun is a practicing designer, educator, and researcher in costume and apparel design. With a Master of Design from Emily Carr University of Art and Design and as alumni of the Fashion Design & Technology program at KPU, Jessica's research bridges traditional garment building techniques with emerging digital tools.  Jessica has worked in athletic wear, costume design, and custom apparel since 2008 and has taught at KPU since 2011. Much of her design work follows a co-creation or collaborative process where she designs and constructs one-of-a-kind swimwear, lingerie, suiting, and theatre costumes for all genders, bodies, and performance styles.  Be it from costume designing theatre performers to working with avatars in computer aided drafting— Jessica is particularly interested in the future of design. 

Research Interests: Co-creation, Sustainability, Augmented & Virtual Reality, and Feminism

Addie Bahi - Faculty 

Addie is an alumnus of the University of Manchester (U.K.), where he awarded the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in 2008. His multidisciplinary educational background in Fibre Science, Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology, Management, and Materials Engineering assists him in exploring integrated engineering, nanotechnology, and interdisciplinary collaboration with academia and industry partners. In addition to teaching Nanofibre Technology, Dr. Bahi has been the guest lecturer for “Nanomedicines”, “Polymer and Polymer Matrix Composites”, and “Biomimicry and Biocomposites”. Addie has been invited referee to Journal of ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, Advanced Fiber Materials, Applied Polymer Science, Composite Science, Energy & Fuels, Materials, Molecules (Special Issue: Biocomposites – a path towards circular economy), Processes, Textile Research Journal (TRJ), and Wood Chemistry and Technology.

Research Interests: Nanofibre Technology & New Fibres, Multifunctional Composites, Biomaterials & Health Care, Wearables & Implants, Sustainability & Recycling, Textile Sciences and Technologies. 

Jimmy Choi - Faculty

Jimmy is a faculty member in the Wilson School of Design and Melville School of Business at KPU. His interest in human behavior ultimately led him to a career in marketing and consumer behavior research. He has an extensive educational background that includes a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Clothing and Textiles, a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Consumer and Child Studies, and a Master of Science in Fashion Merchandising from Seoul National University. He continued his education in the USA where he was awarded a Ph.D. in Design and Human Environment from Oregon State University. Dr. Choi is always searching for a new perspective and increased insight into consumer needs and behavior. Since joining the Wilson School of Design in 2017, Jimmy has dedicated himself to interacting with students, helping them establish a strong set of foundational research skills that ensure a successful design process.

Research Interests: User-centred design process, user experience and research skill development

Joanna Zander - Faculty

Joanna is a Vancouver-based User Experience (UX) professional with over 20 years of experience in academic, applied research, and industrial settings. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Human Factors from Simon Fraser University, along with a UX Certification. Following this, Joanna earned a Ph.D. in Kinesiology from SFU and has since centered her professional career in Vancouver. Dr. Zander has taught at ECUAD, SFU, and UBC, and has worked for companies such as Nokia, Samsung, Lululemon, and Amazon and specializes in user-centered design (UCD) and has utilized UCD methodology to enhance the design of hardware such as mobile phones, GPS devices, underwater breathing apparatus (similar to SCUBA), and wearables, as well as software. Joanna is passionate about fostering and supporting the UX community in the Lower Mainland.

Research Interests: User Centered Design, User Experience Strategy, Usability, UX Design, Interaction Design and Service Design

Sue Fairburn - Faculty

Sue is new to the Wilson School of Design (2018) after teaching design studio (3D Design, Design Futures) and theory (Critical and Contextual Studies) in Scotland for the past 10 years. She is an established Design Educator and Researcher who draws from her knowledge of the body (science) and takes critical inspiration from challenging environments (design). Educated in Canada, Sue holds post-graduate degrees in Environmental Physiology (MSc. in Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University) and Industrial Design (MDes, University of Calgary). She co-founded a Social Enterprise, Design for Development [DFD 2005-2012] which applied design as engagement and problem-solving. Sue is a co-Pilot in City As A Spaceship (CAAS); an all-women collective applying closed-loop system thinking used in spaceship design to extreme urban realities. Since joining KPU she initiated research into Materials and Objects in Extreme Environments (MOEE).

Research Interests: User-centred design process, User experience and Research skill development

Stephanie Phillips - Faculty

Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Fashion Design from Ryerson University in Toronto, Ontario. She furthered her education by obtaining a Master of Arts in Textile Futures and Design for Material Sustainability from Central Saint Martin's College of Art & Design in London, United Kingdom.

With a focus on functional composite textiles and sustainability, Stephanie's design research practices revolve around developing innovative materials sourced from a single waste stream, particularly bio-derived sources. Since 2003, Stephanie has been actively working in the field of Textile Design. In 2010, she ventured into teaching, initially at OCAD University before joining Kwantlen Polytechnic University in 2014. Her creative work has been showcased at notable events such as Tent during London Design Week and The Munich Craft Council's Exhibition on Craft & Innovation. Stephanie has also contributed her expertise as a trend forecaster with WGSN and has conducted workshops in collaboration with organizations like Subtle Technologies, IDEO, and The University of Toronto.

Currently, Stephanie holds the prestigious role of the Sherman Jen Research Chair in Next Generation Design at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. In addition to her research responsibilities, she actively contributes to teaching in various programs within the Wilson School of Design. This includes the Product Design Bachelor program, Fashion & Technology Bachelor program, and the Technical Apparel Post-Baccalaureate program.

Stephanie's multifaceted involvement in research, teaching, and design positions her as a key contributor to the advancement of next-generation design practices and sustainable approaches in the field of fashion and textiles.

Research Interests: Biomaterials, Sustainability, Textiles, Functional Materials, Creativity and Innovation