Inventor Profiles

Research area In Fairbanks’ 20 years of experience, three threads of practice have emerged: solo work, research into emerging textile technology and social practice work. While distinctly different in intentions and outcomes, each thread informs and supports the others. Whether engaging poetic and aesthetic pleasures, utilitarian applications or political and critical discourse, the unified focus of Fairbanks’ work is textiles and the role they will play in the future of our society.

• Faculty page
• Weaving lab website
• Patents, publications, and more

What excites you about your work? 

“I’m trained as an artist, and intellectual property isn’t a path most artists take, but artists are always looking for what new ideas come next—pushing boundaries or materiality, new ways to interact with audience. My goal is to create new ideas bound to weaving, sculpture and material-based innovations. I opened Weaving Lab in the WID in 2016 to have a public-facing research space where we could ask questions in community. I was thrilled when people came and became researchers in the lab. When visitors did not have time to weave on a floor loom, I wanted to hand them something they could take with them, like a portable loom. I started doing laser cut prototypes here in Design Studies, and for two years, I was able to give them away as part of the project. I then launched the Weaving Lab into an international world tour and started a business called Hello Loom. It was interesting to go through WARF and to be both the inventor and licensor of my own technology.”

What do you hope to achieve? 

“My goal with the tool is to make weaving an enjoyable, accessible experience. Cultivating future students in my own program makes me excited. I love that it’s a tool to spur creativity and give people a moment of reflection. I love teaching innovation in my classroom and getting involved with other research projects across campus. My next patent could be around the corner, so having time and support to play leads us to that, and I’m grateful to be at a university that supports this kind of activity.”

Marianne is a joy to work with. Their expertise with woven materials is impressive. We are excited about the creative materials and processes they have innovated on over the years.

– Michael Carey, WARF, Licensing Manager