Donna Dinsdale

Donna teaches the Fashion Design major within the Bachelor of Creative Industries at Toi Ohomai.

She holds a Bachelor of Design from Otago University and a Master of Design from Auckland University of Technology.

"I love learning about cultural influences in art and design and sharing my knowledge with students and aspiring designers. I’m grateful I can practice both of my passions: teaching and fashion," Donna says.

Over the past 20 years, she's been building a career that enables her to do just that, as well as having the opportunity to further her own learning and curiosity.

Highlights of her career include showcasing her designs at the WOW World of Wearable Art Museum in Nelson and travelling to Tonga in 2018 to present and deliver a workshop to fashion design students at the Ahopanilolo Technical Institute. In 2019, she was awarded first place in the Menswear category and winner of the Overall Award of Excellence at the annual Hokonui Fashion Design Awards.

In her personal life, she still loves to be creative, as well as giving back to the community. Donna creates fashion and textile-based custom work for exhibitions and competitions, do freelance fashion design work, work as a community-based volunteer, dabble in cake decorating and Raranga (Māori flax weaving). She's also Chairperson of the Tia Marae Hineota Kitchen Committee.