Linda Ohrn-McDaniel

Linda graduated from Uppsala University, Sweden, with a B. Ed., focused on teaching textiles and English as a 2nd language. She then went on to get a MFA in Fashion Design from the University of North Texas in 2003. Before she started teaching at Kent State University in 2004, she worked at Wade College in Dallas, Texas. In 2010 Linda earned tenure and promotion to associate professor and in 2016 she was promoted to professor at Kent State University. In 2016 Linda was appointed Faculty Director of the TechStyleLAB. The TechStyleLAB is a space where learning, research and commercial service meet, and the driving force is to create an open environment where exploration and collaboration in the area of fashion and technology can flourish.

During her time with the Fashion School, Linda has taken on many different leadership roles. Currently, her focus is on the TechStyleLAB and development of knit education and knit technology. Since her start in 2004, the knit curriculum has grown from one class on domestic knitting machines to three classes in; knitwear design, industrial hand flat knitting, and M1 Plus programming for the Industrial Stoll ADF machine which was added to the mix in 2015. Linda keeps pushing forward and she is constantly trying to learn more in order to provide the students with the best knit-education she can. Through her training on the M1 plus software, she is teaching the students both how to run the machine and to develop knit programs.

Linda’s creative scholarship has reached the international level with presentations and exhibitions in the U.S. and abroad. Starting out her work focused on creative approaches to pattern-making design where the surface design and shaping went hand in hand. This approach to surface and shape has continued through her work with knit technology and lead to an award for one of her knitted designs as the Most Marketable Textile Design at ITAA (International Textile and Apparel Association) 2017. Linda has also received the prestigious Lectra Outstanding Faculty Designer award in 2006 and 2014 through ITAA. She continues to showcase her work in solo exhibitions around the world most recently at Colorado State University in 2017 with the exhibition “From 0 to 100- an Exploration of Waste in Fashion.

To learn more about her work please visit her website: www.linda-ohrn-mcdaniel.com

Scholarly, Creative & Professional Activities

The focus of Linda's teaching is in pattern-making, draping and construction, as well as machine knitting. Through individual investigations with students, she has had the opportunity to help students focus and learn more about couture techniques, embellishments through beading or machine embroidery, draping and machine knitting.