Purpose of the role

As a Specialist Technician supporting Fashion Retail Design and Brand Experience, you will play a crucial role in facilitating students' learning by providing specialist technical expertise across physical making, model-making, material experimentation, spatial design and digital visualisation. The role will support students in developing practical workshop and digital design skills required to take retail and brand experience concepts from initial ideas and prototypes through to visualisation, realisation and installation.

Provide formal and informal technical teaching, demonstrations and specialist guidance in model-making, prototyping, fabrication, materials, hand tools, workshop equipment, digital modelling and visualisation technologies, supporting safe and effective working practices.

 Contribute professional and technical expertise to curriculum activities supporting physical, digital and hybrid retail and brand experiences. Work collaboratively with academic and technical colleagues to ensure facilities, equipment, materials and technical learning opportunities support course learning outcomes and evolving industry practice.

Key duties and responsibilities

§  Provide hands-on technical support to students across model-making, prototyping, fabrication, spatial design, material experimentation and digital design, using appropriate workshop equipment, tools, materials and software.

§  Deliver formal and informal technical teaching, demonstrations and workshops in model-making and fabrication techniques, including the safe and appropriate use of hand tools, workshop equipment, construction methods and finishing processes.

§  Support students in selecting, testing and experimenting with appropriate materials, processes, construction and finishing techniques for physical models, prototypes, retail environments, displays and design artefacts.

§  Support students through the technical development of projects from drawing and concept development through scale model-making and prototyping to digital visualisation, physical realisation, installation and presentation.

§  Provide technical guidance in 2D and 3D spatial design, digital modelling, rendering and visualisation, using relevant industry-standard software such as SketchUp, Blender, TwinMotion, Adobe Creative Suite or equivalent platforms.

§  Support students in exploring digital and emerging technologies relevant to physical, digital and hybrid retail experiences, including immersive and interactive technologies such as VR and AR where appropriate.

§  Assist students in troubleshooting technical and practical challenges during model-making, fabrication, digital production, installation and project realisation.

§  Manage and maintain specialist workshop and studio facilities, equipment, tools and materials, ensuring resources are safe, operational and accessible for timetabled teaching and open-access student activity.

§  Ensure compliance with Health and Safety requirements within workshop and studio environments, contributing to risk assessments, safe systems of work, inductions and appropriate safety procedures.

§  Source and procure appropriate materials, tools, equipment and consumables. Maintain inventories of workshop materials, tools and consumables and monitor stock levels to support teaching and student project activity.

§  Contribute as a member of the course and technical team to programme planning and development, including technical curriculum development, learning activities, research, exhibitions, installations and industry-facing projects.

Person specification

This section provides a list of up to 10 essential criteria (and up to 2 desirable criteria if specified) that you will need to demonstrate you meet as part of the recruitment process.

Experience, knowledge and qualifications

§  Relevant degree qualification or equivalent qualification and/or relevant professional experience in visual merchandising, retail or spatial design, model-making, exhibition design or a related discipline.

§  Practical knowledge and experience of model-making, prototyping and fabrication, including the safe use of hand tools and equipment such as hot wire cutters, glue guns, scalpels and woodworking tools.

§  Knowledge of materials, construction and finishing techniques used to create scale models, prototypes, retail displays and spatial design artefacts.

§  Experienced working knowledge of digital design software, including SketchUp, Blender, TwinMotion, Illustrator, Indesign and Photoshop or equivalent.

§  Experience of teaching and/or demonstrating equipment and techniques relating to physical and digital 3D processes, including safe workshop practices.

§  Experience of producing induction and training materials to support students and colleagues in using specialist tools, equipment, processes and software.

§  Experience of supporting technology-enhanced learning.

Desirable criteria

§  Knowledge of sculpting techniques.

§  Experience of using virtual reality design tools to create interactive experiences.

§  Experience of a comparable role in Higher Education.

Communication skills    

§  Have the ability to communicate, plan and deliver technical instructions through face-to-face and online demonstrations in clear and simple terms, adapting the message for a diverse audience in an inclusive and accessible way

Research, teaching and learning or Professional practice.

§  Uses effective teaching and learning or professional practice to support excellent teaching, pedagogy and inclusivity.

Planning and managing resources

§  Plans, prioritises and organises work to achieve objectives on time.

Teamwork

§  Works collaboratively in a team or with different professional groups, ensuring the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion are upheld

Student experience or customer service

§  Builds and maintains positive relationships with students or customers.