Our Faculty

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 Master of Science in Fashion Merchandising from Seoul National University and Doctor of Philosophy in Design and Human Environment (Oregon State University). Jimmy is always searching for a new perspective and increased insight on consumer needs and behavior. Since joining the Wilson School of Design in 2017, Jimmy has dedicated himself to interacting with students, helping them to 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

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