Karen Baker
Cohort 4; Social Impact and Historical Research
Recovering African American Stories in Textile Design and History
Bio
Karen Baker is focused on design, history, material culture, and critical studies of textiles and fiber. She brings 28 years of experience as an award-winning business owner and executive specializing in design research and strategic and social impact marketing. Karen taught for sixteen years at The George Washington University. As founder of Fiber With A Cause, Karen researches African American weavers’ patterns from 1800 to 1909 in textile design and history. Karen is producing an ethnographic documentary short film from this archival and historical research, slave narratives, and artifacts discovered.
Research Interest
Karen is researching the textile, fiber, and craft contributions and techniques of enslaved and free African American weavers before the Great Migration.
Student Research Areas
Primary Research Area: Design Thinking, Methods, Materials & Education
Secondary Domain: Engaged Social Design and Organizational Strategies
Location
Karen is currently located in Washington, D.C.
Education
- Master in Fine Arts, Social Practice with a focus in Public Policy at Corcoran School for the Arts and Design | August 2020-August 2021
- Master in Arts, Savannah College of Art and Design, Design Management | 2013
- BA, Howard University, Political Science | 1992
Personal Websites
Committee Members
Area(s) of Expertise
Social Practice, Craft Studies, Textile Design and History