Martin Bouette

Martin leads the Business Studies modules for the Fashion Courses at the University of Brighton and is Director of the Creative Workspace company The Werks Group. He undertakes research into creative entrepreneurship and creative ecologies. Martin completed a doctorate that explored creative graduate careers and has lead a number of successful EU funded projects supporting new business development and growth within creative businesses. He has also developed new and innovative curriculum at Degree, MA and MBA level.

My work investigates the role of entrepreneurship in the development of creative careers as a business owner and researcher. This has included investigating the gap between education and employment for creative practitioners as well as exploring models of learning to support entrepreneurial development.

Current and recent PhD students:

Claire Dawson - An exploration for clothing reuse in the circular economy (2023 -  present)

Martin Irorere -  Sustainability in making material innovation in textiles, for the circular model in the fashion industry (2021 - 2023) 

Erika Wong – Art World Hegemony and Access: Competing Perspectives on the Value of The Creative Class (2016 – 2020) Brighton University

Veerapong Klangpremjit – Interactive Packaging Development (2014 – 2020) University for the Creative Arts

Akapan Thienthaworn – Design Management in UK and Thai SMEs (2011 – 2019) University for the Creative Arts (completed)

I currently teach across the following areas:

Undergraduate level

BA (hons) Fashion Design with Business Studies

BA (hons) Textiles with Business Studies

BA (hons) Fashion Communication with Business Studies

PhD level

Supervising 1 PhD student

My specialism is specific to business and entrepreneurship for creative businesses. Through my teaching I aim to engage students regarding the de – mystification of business terminology and through this to support strategic learning regarding the qualitative and quantitative areas of business planning.

My teaching reflects upon my professional business practice where current practices are explored through real situations. The predominant element of my teaching is through lectures to large groups (100+). Teaching large groups has required new thinking regarding engagement and meeting differing learning styles. As part of the Business studies team we have introduced new technologies into larger sessions including the use of ‘Near Pod’ which allows students to interact with lecture sessions through social media. Additionally, I engage in tutorial sessions to smaller groups where learning can be supported through exchanges of shared experiences.

Research activity

Recent projects and presentations

Co-innovating the Curriculum for Fashion Business Start-up and Development (2023) The Future of Education Conference, Florence with M Wells, M Nguyen (paper accepted but unable to attend)

Co-innovate: Research project and curriculum pilot to use co innovation to supoort creative business development in early career creatives and undertaken at Netwerks in Lewes, east Sussex (2022) with M Wells, M Nguyen.

Improving the assessment process for students: Reflections on using audio feedback in assessment as a tool improve the student learning experience for large student cohorts (2022) University of Brighton Student Experience Conference. with S Elwick, M Nguyen, L Smith, R Englebright

Efficient Assessment: Streamlining online assessment and developing tools to improve student feedback (2021) University of Brighton Student Experience Conference. with S Elwick, M Nguyen, L Smith

Making Micro Businesses 'Werk' (2019) Keynote presentation at: Pop up Asia International forum, Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, Taipei

Reinvention in Practice (2019) Speaker presentation at The Reinvention Symposium, The Margate School (liberal arts Institute)

Building for Creativity (2018) Conference presentation at Creativity, Knowledge, Cities conference, University of the West of England.

HouseWerks (2016 -  2018) Targeted business support for creative businesses in Tunbridge Wells including 1-2-1 support and specialist workshops supporting business growth. Funded through Tunbridge Wells Borough Council

The House (2015 - 2018) The Development of an innovative creative space to incubate and grow creative potential in Tunbridge Wells

Innovation Café Project (2016) Developed a business focused innovation café in the heart of Brighton including co working, meeting and events space. Funded through Coast to Capital (LEP funding).

Development of new MBA and MA programmes (2015 - 2016) for UCA including the MBA Fashion Business, MA Fashion Business and Management and MA Fashion Marketing and Communication courses.

Creative Success Kent (2014 - 2015) supporting creative business start up and growth in Kent and completed mapping and evaluation of the project through an EU Intereg funded project

“Graduate Diploma in Art and Design” (2013 – 2016) Supporting short courses to help international students to develop the academic skills and language level to undertake postgraduate study

Space Studios (2014) Funding and development workshops to artists and craft practitioners

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (2013) Mapping research and bid writing for creative hub development including funding development

51:zeroº Voyager – Film, Video and Digital Media Arts Festival (2013) Evaluation and grant support

“Entrepreneurship Training for Creatives” (2011 – 2014) Supporting new business development in Kent and Medway

The Werks Brighton (2011) Development and Delivery of Transformer Workshops to support business growth of Creative Businesses in Brighton. Supported through South East Business Innovation and Growth Team funding

“Inspiring Commerce: The Business of Creativity” Conference supported by The Work Foundation. Developed and lead the conference (30^th March 2010) http://www.creative-forum.org.uk

“Inspiring Commerce” Creative Industries Leadership forums. (September 25^th 2011 and 30^th November 2011)

University of Westminster (2008 – Present) External Examiner for MA Music Business Management course.

Pearl Academy of Fashion, New Delhi, India (2008 – Present) External Examiner for Post graduate courses in Fashion Marketing and Fashion Retail in campuses at Deli, Chennai and Jaipur.

Innovation and Growth Team – Brighton (2011) Working with SME creative businesses (49 – 250 employees) using creativity as a tool to solve business problems

The Werks Brighton (2011) Development and Delivery of Transformer Workshops to support business growth of Creative Businesses in Brighton. Supported through South East Business Innovation and Growth funding

Research Project  (2009 – 2010) Developing Creative Businesses: An investigation into the learning needs and skills requirements of graduates developing creative businesses 

TONIC - UCA (2008 – Present) Development and delivery of specialist courses and units to encourage participation in future He post graduate courses

Impact Art (2008 – 2009) Research and development of Artbase (www.artbase.org.uk), a charity set up to support the professional development of creative practitioners who are establishing themselves in the public art realm through a unique specialised apprenticeship scheme

University for the Creative Arts (2006 – 2008) Project Management and evaluation of Entrepreneurship Training for Creatives (European Union funded) project

Creative Innovation Award (2005 – 2008) Development and project managed. A UCA Developed and marketed award for creative business ideas development. Designed scheme, project managed scheme in 2005 and 2006 including marketing to University students and externally to local and regional press.

University for the Creative Arts (2004 – 2008) Project Management and evaluation of Supporting Creative Enterprises (European Union funded) project

Surrey University (2008) Development support and evaluation of ‘Artistech’ entrepreneurial summer school for HE students

South East England Development Agency (2007) Management and evaluation of project ‘Promoting creativity and entrepreneurship through professional collaborations for HE students’  Through the Higher Education Entrepreneurship Group

‘Making it Happen’ regional ‘ideas’ and business competition funded through SEEDA (2006) Member of steering committee

Publications

Supporting craft and enhancing the entrepreneurial skills: A case study of Irish craft practitioners (Bouette, M and Harmelin, F) The Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development (2015)

NACUE: Am I an Entrepreneur? create.nacue.com/2012/02/13/am-i-an-entrepreneur/ (2012)

Tonic: Exploring business support for creative businesses (Editor) University for the Creative Arts. ISBN: 978-0-9564160-2-5 (2011)

Consulted on: Design Trust Business Start-up Guide (2008)

Success is not Black and White: Entrepreneurship Training for Creatives (Editor), University College for the Creative Arts ISBN 987-0-9551166-3-6  (2007)

Creative Sparks (Editor), University College for the Creative Arts ISBN  978-0-9551166-1-2  (2007)

Creative Paths (Editor), University College for the Creative Arts ISBN 978-0-9551166-6-7 (2007)

The Creative Enterprise Initiative: developing an infrastructure for creative entrepreneurship. Article in Creative Enterprise in Higher Education, Palatine (2006)

Articles in: Wake up to Enterprise, SEEDA (2006) and (2005)

Book review of ‘The Independents’ for the International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (2005)

0505 Interviews with 5 creative businesses regarding their creative and business development (Editor), Surrey Institute of Art and Design, ISBN 0 9546285 8 6 (2005)

Contributed chapter to “CV’s for the entrepreneur” to the publication “Creative CV Guide”

ISBN: 0 954628519 (2004)

Consulted on: The Design Trust Business Start-up Guide 2003

“Reflection, Response and Re-enacting – The three R’s from a Research Perspective” with de Groot C, Patrick D, and Gray C from “Exploring the Interface Between Education and the Creative Industries” published by Curtin University of Technology. ISBN: 0 9536533 1 5 (2002)

“Transitions in higher education: the relationship between the thoughts and aspirations of students entering higher education in art and craft areas and the opportunities awaiting them at graduation” (Bouette, M and Henderson, D) Idater conference Perth Australia (2001)

Crossing the Abyss: Identifying Career Ambiguities Within Art and Design Studies in Higher Education" from "Planning the Future" Career and employment patterns among British Graduates in art, craft & design. Published by the National Society for Education in Art and Design. ISBN: 0 904684 29 6 (2000)

"Reflective Futures: Using Graduates Career Experiences in the Development of Undergraduate Curriculum" Paper given at: "Reinventing Design Education in the University", Curtin University, Perth Australia (2000)

My research interests are in the relationship between education and the commercial creative practice. My knowledge reflects professional work in the areas of creative hub development and supporting the development of commercial environments to support creative practice development.

consultancy is an important part of my research and commercial development with 3 commercial projects being undertaken in 2019.