Welcome to the Center for Design and Material Culture (CDMC)!
Interdisciplinary research is at the core of all of the work we do. What does research look like in the CDMC? We work with faculty and students to investigate the production, history, and cultural context of the 13,000 textiles in our collection. We collaborate with scholars to consider diverse material culture methods through our many exhibitions and programs. We support cooperative design thinking projects that require interviews, iteration, and testing to solve wicked problems in our community.
To do this important work, we invite collaboration from faculty, students, practitioners, and community members who wish to explore and contribute to the production of knowledge in our three CDMC pillars: the Study of Textiles, Material Culture and Design Thinking. Explore our fellowship and affiliate programs and our Collection-Intensive Course development and Faculty-in-Residence Program opportunities to learn about some of the ways you can get involved. We also invite collaboration around our dynamic exhibitions in the Ruth Davis Design Gallery and the Lynn Mecklenburg Textile Gallery.
Sarah Anne Carter, PhD
Executive Director, Center for Design and Material Culture
Explore our Collection and Galleries
Helen Louise Allen Textile Collection
The Helen Louise Allen Textile Collection is one of the nation’s largest university-held textile collections with over 13,000 textile artifacts spanning 16 centuries and 108 countries.
Ruth Davis Design Gallery
The Ruth Davis Design Gallery is an exhibition space focused on the processes and results of design. Exhibitions include national, international makers, and students from the School of Human Ecology’s Design Studies program.
Lynn Mecklenburg Textile Gallery
The Lynn Mecklenburg Textile Gallery provides a space dedicated to rotating exhibitions of the School of Human Ecology's Helen Louise Allen Textile Collection.