Alumni Stories - Muireann Charleton
"The MA in Design History (now Material Culture) was recommended to me, and it changed my life. I enjoyed every minute of the two years at the NCAD because I studied among like-minded people who shared my love of history, objects, and design."
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Name: Muireann Charleton
Current Career: Lecturer in Design, Yeats Academy of Arts, Design & Architecture, Atlantic Technological University, Sligo.
Graduation Year: 2007
Discipline: Design History/ Visual Culture
Location: West of Ireland, Sligo
What career path did you want to follow as a child?
I always loved looking at art and I was fascinated by ancient objects in the stories I read as a child. My fascination with the history of art and design, and with objects, probably started with a school art project on the ancient Egyptians and their culture. So, design history was in a way always something I loved and wanted to be involved in.
Why did you decide to study at National College of Art & Design?
The MA in Design History (now Material Culture) was recommended to me, and it changed my life. I enjoyed every minute of the two years at the NCAD because I studied among like-minded people who shared my love of history, objects, and design.
How did you develop your career towards your current job or practice?
I started lecturing at IADT and at the NCAD not long after I finished my MA. I really enjoyed communicating and discussing history of craft and design with students. After my MA, I worked at the National Museum of Ireland in Collins Barracks which prepared me for organizing public events and public speaking about the history of design. I went into management and worked as Education & Innovation Manager with the Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) for 5 years. While my role was managing large national craft and design projects, it was underpinned by my MA in Design History. I am now studying for a PhD at Kingston University in London on the history of Irish craft and design exhibitions, so I am still developing.
What is the one experience during your time at NCAD that has informed you most in your career and work to date?
All the MA tutors at that time, Dr Anna Moran, Hilary O’Kelly, Dr. Paul Caffrey, instilled in us a sense that the research work we were doing into Irish material culture was important. They also communicated their passion for the subject. In particular, the inspirational late Dr. Nicola Gordon Bowe informed my career in that I try to inspire my students to get excited about the history of Irish design, and to go out and experience culture.
If you were chatting with current NCAD students today what is the one piece of advice you would offer?
Make the most of learning from your tutors. Go to as many exhibitions and cultural events as you can. If opportunities come up to socialize and meet with fellow students, take the chance, and get to know other students and staff. It’s a real gift to find yourself for a period studying with like-minded people in a place like the NCAD. So grab it with both hands.
What new opportunities have developed for you as a result of changes in work practice during the Covid pandemic?
I recently coordinated a virtual workshop on ‘Good Design Collaboration’ for textile and fashion designers as part of an EU project called FUSION. It was fascinating to see that we can, with facilitation, practice good collaboration skills in the virtual world. I have just finished editing a digital toolkit with resources on best practice for design collaboration as a result. My PhD professors are based in London, and before the pandemic I was looking forward to many trips to London for supervision tutorials. Covid meant that my tutorials conducted online are now the norm, and this creates great flexibility for students and lecturers. As a result, I have had the opportunity to be a part of a wider community of practice.
