CAROLINE CONNOR

THE PRESENT

 Caroline began her journey, over 30 years ago, gathering knowledge and skills in the design and development of materials, experimenting with compositions, constructions, aesthetics and haptics. After graduating from Royal College of Art, London in 2000, Caroline moved to Sweden to start her design career within industrial textile manufacturing, learning how design shall unite with properties and characteristics of material to form function, quality and longevity.

As a Colour and Material Design consultant for automotive clients within Sweden, Caroline worked with the strategic design of textiles, leathers, soft and hard plastic composites, materials that cover surfaces of 3-d forms in the interior and exterior of vehicles. These materials were uniquely developed with selected suppliers in accordance with the design briefs and technical specifications. It takes time and perseverence to create the most durable solutions. Each material must compliment yet contrast with other surrounding materials, to create surface interest and perceived quality.

Caroline is more than proud of the colleagues and suppliers, who she collaborated with for so many years –

“We developed materials for products together – thank you for sharing your knowledge with me about best processes and practices”.

No longer content with the role as a designer, Caroline desired to change behaviours in how product teams design and develop;

• conscious of the vast amounts of resources – energy, water, chemicals, time and economy that are constantly consumed in the extraction, growth, design and development of materials.
• knowledge from evaluation of global supplier chains, reviewing production facilities and the working conditions where materials are produced in volumes
• manufacturing’s effect on the pollution of air and water in surrounding environments and its impact on the quality of life for workers, their families and the communities  where they reside.

Aware that the resources that our world has provided us with are diminishing fast.

“What will the future hold for children, young adults and the elderly, if we are reluctant to re-think. re-act and slow down

Now we must consciously think and implement change in how we design, develop, sell and consume products”

Let us together contribute to change.

Join me on this journey as I cannot guide alone.

THE PAST

Solid customer experience of textile and leather manufacturing processes and techniques through roles at European vertical integrated factories and Colour and Material Design consultancy roles at Volvo Trucks and Volvo Cars product design departments.

Broad knowledge of natural and synthetic fibres, sewing techniques and processes used in the manufacturing of upholstery, wall panels and curtains.

I practice streamlined life cycle assessments as a support tool in product development projects and encourage transparent collaboration with an organization’s value chain to realise and reduce negative impacts on the environment and individuals.

Born and educated in the United Kingdom; in 2000. I started my professional career in Sweden where I reside.

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WORK EXPERIENCE

2021 – onwards

Owner, founder, consultant; MATERIAL GUIDANCE SWEDEN AB

Strategic projects – Circular design and product development – modular systems, material reuse and recycling ▪ Material sourcing

▪ Evaluation of samples and product prototypes ▪ Evaluation of test standards and laboratory results ▪ Development of technical requirement & specifications

▪ Code of Conduct documents – employee and supplier ▪ Policy documents ▪ Risk assessment – product and supply chain

▪ Material certification ▪ Competitor analysis – materials, sustainability claims and product range

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2019 – 2020

Product Developer Soft Goods; THULE GROUP SWEDEN

Advising design and product management teams on properties and characteristics of textiles, composite materials, laminates and
trim details that are suitable for strollers, car seats and multisport trailers.

Evaluation and quality assurance of material samples and prototypes ▪ Technical requirement Specifications ▪ REACH ▪ DFMEA ▪ Supplier Assessment – Textile and Component Manufacturing ▪ PLM

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 2016 – 2018

CMF Designer, VOLVO TRUCK PRODUCT DESIGN,

CMF consultant via SEMCON

Responsible for colour and appearance development of PU composites, leather, textiles and hard plastic parts for interior
and exterior components.

Colour development and evaluation ▪ Strategic materials research ▪ Design quality assessments of
prototypes ▪ Design presentations to brand and product owners ▪ Negotiations with component owners and
suppliers to ensure implementation of product design intentions.

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2015 – 2016

Program Manager, ELMO LEATHER AB

Project management of the development of engineered leather qualities against the specific customer’s requirements for car
upholstery and interior décor

 Reporting to customer, internal project team and management team ▪ DFMEA ▪ ISO 9001 audit

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 2014 – 2015; 2000 – 2010

Design Account Manager & Designer – BORGSTENA TEXTILE AB

Responsible for design, product development, coordination and presentations of textiles for customers in the automotive industry.

Project management – new textile developments towards the customer’s design requirement specifications ▪ Presentations towards the customer ▪ Trend & material research ▪ Design of technical textiles – woven, warp and circular knitted material ▪ Textile dyeing and fixation processes ▪ Textile lamination ▪ Colour assessment ▪ DFMEA ▪ PDM

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2010 – 2013

Account Manager, SEGER EUROPÉ AB

Responsible for private label customers in Norway, Finland, Denmark and Germany.

Business development of new and existing customers ▪ Responsibility for results ▪ Budget responsibility ▪
Management team meeting ▪ Negotiations ▪ Quotations ▪ Ensure the customer’s requirements for price,
delivery and quality

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EDUCATION

2022 – 2023 NORDIC TEXTILE ACADEMY, BORÅS

Vocational studies

 ▪ LCA – Eco-Design Studio software  & Life Cycle Assessments in Practice ▪ Sustainability reports ▪ Circular Design

▪ Sustainability Developer – Textile Industry (Collaborative internship Materiality Analysis at Axkid AB)

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2013

SWEDISH SCHOOL OF TEXTILES, BORÅS, SWEDEN

Vocational studies

Corporate Social Responsibility in Textile and Fashion Companies

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1998 – 2000

ROYAL COLLEGE OF ART, LONDON

Master of Arts – Constructed Textile Design

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1994 – 1998

SCOTTISH COLLEGE OF TEXTILES, GALASHIELS, SCOTLAND
BA Hons degree – First Class – Industrial Textile Design

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LANGUAGES

ENGLISH – Mother tongue
SWEDISH – Fluent business communication; oral and written

THE FUTURE

LET US BUILD THE FUTURE TOGETHER

Unique cross functional experience and knowledge in ecodesign, product development, project management and quality assurance of technical engineered materials for automotives and consumer products.

Balancing creativity with sensitivity to fulfil stakeholder requirements through implementing solutions to a broad spectrum of contemporary challenges.