Kathryn Shannon Sim
- Masters in Mass Communication, Nanyang Technological University of Singapore
Kathryn Shannon Sim, also known as Shannon by many, is an educator driven by a deep passion for exploring the intersection of fashion and technology. With her unwavering commitment to challenging and disrupting the fashion system, Shannon stands at the forefront of digital initiatives and technological applications to prepare students for the evolving demands of the fashion industry while pushing for sustainability.
As an influential educator, Shannon not only equips her students with the essential tools needed for success in the fashion industry but also makes significant contributions to shaping the discourse around fashion and its future. Her dedication to nurturing creativity, sustainability and innovation ensures that the fashion industry continues to evolve in a positive direction.
Currently pursuing her PhD at the London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London, Shannon is also the Programme Leader for the BA (Hons) Fashion Media and Industries programme at LASALLE College of the Arts. She teaches in the School of Fashion, focusing on fashion and technology, business of fashion, entrepreneurship, digital marketing, social media and user experience.
Conferences/journals/papers
- ‘Audience As The New Creative: A Study of the Co-creation Role Audience Play in a Participatory Environment to Create Effective Advertising Campaigns with the Creative in the Context of Singapore’, presented and published by Cumulus Paris in To get there: designing together, Conférence des Écoles Supérieures d’Arts Appliqués de Paris (CÉSAAP); Paris, France (2018)
- ‘Aligning Expectations: A Stakeholder Approach to Industry-Based Learning’, presented and published in The Theory and Reality of the Convergence in Arts: Korea-Singapore Joint International Conference on Arts and Design Interdisciplinary Studies at SungkyunKwan University (2015)
- ‘Harnessing the power of crowdsourcing in advertising to build successful businesses’, published in Journal of the International Design Symposium for the theme: Creativity Convergence – Related Study of Business Model (2014)
Interviews
- Featured in CNA Lifestyle, ‘Why are millennials buying plushies and ‘cute stuff’? It’s to heal their inner child’: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/living/kidult-plushie-blind-box-labubu-soft-toy-460041 (2025)
- Featured in The Straits Times, ‘Orchard Road Christmas light-up: 40 years on, a look back at some hits – and misses’: https://www.straitstimes.com/life/orchard-road-s-light-ups-through-the-years-the-ghosts-of-christmas-illuminations-past (2023)
- Featured in Mensfolio, ‘In Your Eye: An Educator and Student Discuss Idealism’: https://www.mens-folio.com/style/in-your-eye-an-educator-and-a-student-discuss-idealism/ (2023)
- Interviewed by Lianhe Zaobao on the rise of virtual influencers and avatars, and their impact on the fashion industry (2021)
- Interviewed by Lianhe Zaobao on the fast fashion store-closure wave due to the pandemic, as well as predictions on the future of retail: https://www.zaobao.com.sg/zlifestyle/fashion/story20200731-1073346 (2020)
- Featured in LASALLE News, ‘Meet the lecturers who guided students to three Pencil wins at D&AD 2019 New Blood Awards’: https://www.lasalle.edu.sg/features/meet-lecturers-who-guided-students-three-pencil-wins-dad-2019-new-blood-awards
- Featured in The Straits Times on the next shift in advertising (2012)
Exhibitions
- 8th United Design: International Biennial Exhibition/Posters for Environmental Awareness; Jeju, Korea (2016)
- Wood/Paper/Cloth 2016; Singapore (2016)
- New Generation, the 7th International Exhibition by Professor & Students of Visual Communication Design In New Generation; Seoul, Korea (2010)
- Constellation
Talks/panels
- Moderator, Fashion Summit (2025)
- Moderator, Digital Forum (2023)
- Moderator, LASALLE CareerFest (2023)
- Panellist, Fashion Education in The Metaverse LIVE Webinar, part of the panel discussing how to build a fashion curriculum for the future (2021)