Darla Jane Gilroy

Darla Jane Gilroy was one of the four "Blitz kids" featured in David Mallet's iconic music video for David Bowie's 1980 number 1 hit Ashes to Ashes.

Darla is currently a tutor in accessories in the School of Fashion and Textiles, and has her own practice as a consultant designer and trend predictor.

On graduating from Saint Martin's School of Art, she set up her own design label and travelled extensively, manufacturing under license in Hong Kong and living in the Far East for four years. After returning to the UK, she became Design Director of several companies with overall responsibility for creative development.

She has had a long involvement with design education, both undergraduate and post graduate, as a visiting lecturer, external examiner and course advisor, teaching at Ravensbourne, Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, the University of Westminster, Southampton University, University of East London, and the University of the Arts.

In 1995 she became the Course Leader of the BA Hons in Footwear and Accessories Design and Product Development at Cordwainers College and in 1999 she became Head of Department and Subject Leader in Fashion at Winchester School of Art. Currently she is external examiner to the footwear design course at DeMontfort University.

She has maintained her professional practice through her design and trends consultancy, The Future Perfect, working with clients such as McCann Erickson advertising agency, predominantly on the Unilever accounts.

External links

• Darla Jane Gilroy's official Linkedin.com profile
• Official trendspotting, futurist website of Darla Jane Gilroy