I respectfully acknowledge the Wurundjeri people as the traditional custodians of the unceded lands, waters and skies where my studio is situated, and pay respects to their elders past and present and emerging and the stolen generations.
Doctor of Philosophy Examination: Oral Presentation, Exhibition and Thesis
After examination for the Doctor of Philosophy, Fashion and Textiles, in December 2025 my degree was conferred.
Doctoral Citation:
Dr Kuzmycz explored design for maximum wearing, focusing on dresses, an underutilised garment. The research produced a model of open fashion design that incorporates wearing feedback to inform garment designs. It demonstrates that wearing feedback can be transformative for sustainable fashion practice, garment design, and enhances understanding of wearing behaviours.
If you are interested in reading the thesis:
Kuzmycz, Alicja (2025). Open Dress-ing: Design Explorations Through Making and Wearing. RMIT University. Thesis. https://doi.org/10.25439/rmt.30938435
After examination for the Doctor of Philosophy, Fashion and Textiles, in December 2025 my degree was conferred.
Doctoral Citation:
Dr Kuzmycz explored design for maximum wearing, focusing on dresses, an underutilised garment. The research produced a model of open fashion design that incorporates wearing feedback to inform garment designs. It demonstrates that wearing feedback can be transformative for sustainable fashion practice, garment design, and enhances understanding of wearing behaviours.
If you are interested in reading the thesis:
Kuzmycz, Alicja (2025). Open Dress-ing: Design Explorations Through Making and Wearing. RMIT University. Thesis. https://doi.org/10.25439/rmt.30938435
The New Brief
Dresses make up of a quarter of Australian wardrobes, the largest quantity of any item, and yet they are the least worn of any item (Khan, Shaw & Bandara 2022).
The Dress Audit Survey was the first phase of my PhD project – a digital wardrobe study – that asked participants about their most and least worn dress. The findings helped to formulate a new design brief that could helpd to increase the active life of dresses.
I presented these findings at PLATE 2025 (Product Lifetimes and the Environment) conference.
You can read the paper here:
Kuzmycz, A., & McCorkill, G. (2025). Idle and Active Dresses: Design Briefings from the Wardrobe. Proceedings of the 6th Product Lifetimes and the Environment Conference (PLATE2025), (6). https://doi.org/10.54337/plate2025-10427
Dresses make up of a quarter of Australian wardrobes, the largest quantity of any item, and yet they are the least worn of any item (Khan, Shaw & Bandara 2022).
The Dress Audit Survey was the first phase of my PhD project – a digital wardrobe study – that asked participants about their most and least worn dress. The findings helped to formulate a new design brief that could helpd to increase the active life of dresses.
I presented these findings at PLATE 2025 (Product Lifetimes and the Environment) conference.
You can read the paper here:
Kuzmycz, A., & McCorkill, G. (2025). Idle and Active Dresses: Design Briefings from the Wardrobe. Proceedings of the 6th Product Lifetimes and the Environment Conference (PLATE2025), (6). https://doi.org/10.54337/plate2025-10427
Zero Waste Festival - Panel Talk 2024
Talking on a panel at the Zero Waste Festival about my research findings in relation to low utilisation of fashion garments and how to more sustainbly use your clothes.
Talking on a panel at the Zero Waste Festival about my research findings in relation to low utilisation of fashion garments and how to more sustainbly use your clothes.
Snap Dress Prototype 02
An experimental dress designed to be infinitely changeable for the wearer.
Boxy and oversized so that can be worn by many body shapes and sizes. The dress is covered with snaps that can connect to each other to change the shape and allows other pieces to be attached. Made from deadstock lyocell, or hemp and silk with metal snaps.
Five of this iteration of the dress were made and were sent out to participants who wore them in their everyday lives for three months. Titled the ‘Wearing Challenge’ the participants kindly shared feedback with me each week about their wearing experiences. This wearing activity was part of PhD research project.
An experimental dress designed to be infinitely changeable for the wearer.
Boxy and oversized so that can be worn by many body shapes and sizes. The dress is covered with snaps that can connect to each other to change the shape and allows other pieces to be attached. Made from deadstock lyocell, or hemp and silk with metal snaps.
Five of this iteration of the dress were made and were sent out to participants who wore them in their everyday lives for three months. Titled the ‘Wearing Challenge’ the participants kindly shared feedback with me each week about their wearing experiences. This wearing activity was part of PhD research project.
Digital Prototypes
Prototype exploration in Clo3D
Prototype exploration in Clo3D
New works / works in progress
As yet uncategorised new works - experimentations and works that are still in progress.
A circle theme seems to be emerging at the moment...
As yet uncategorised new works - experimentations and works that are still in progress.
A circle theme seems to be emerging at the moment...
#InstaMe
October 2018
Toot Artspace
Shop 5, 17-19 Irwell Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia
This series of paintings and a video explores the self authorship and narcissistic nature of online identity. Digital existence is slowed down, solidified and repeated. Paired with hashtags that investigate the notion of performance and curation with a playful slippage of language that exposes the nature of online interactions.
October 2018
Toot Artspace
Shop 5, 17-19 Irwell Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia
This series of paintings and a video explores the self authorship and narcissistic nature of online identity. Digital existence is slowed down, solidified and repeated. Paired with hashtags that investigate the notion of performance and curation with a playful slippage of language that exposes the nature of online interactions.
Autobiography
July 2018
Toot Artspace
Shop 5, 17-19 Irwell Street
St Kilda, Victoria, Australia
Here Kuzmycz explores the notion of performance, curation and self-authorship of online identity. Alongside a playful nod to the surrealist René Magritte, this series of self-concious and narcissistic Instagram style pictures reflect a huge shift in our cultural values and social interactions. They slow down and solidify the ever increasing ephemeral digital experience.
July 2018
Toot Artspace
Shop 5, 17-19 Irwell Street
St Kilda, Victoria, Australia
Here Kuzmycz explores the notion of performance, curation and self-authorship of online identity. Alongside a playful nod to the surrealist René Magritte, this series of self-concious and narcissistic Instagram style pictures reflect a huge shift in our cultural values and social interactions. They slow down and solidify the ever increasing ephemeral digital experience.
Series, Papercut Paintings
2009 - 2015
The femme fatale character creates the opportunity to explore ideas around strong women and culture using dark humour, while tapping into a long historical storytelling legacy. These paintings are also layered with a subverted and moderninsed traditional Polish paper cut (Wycinanki), with collaged cotton crochet doilies.
2009 - 2015
The femme fatale character creates the opportunity to explore ideas around strong women and culture using dark humour, while tapping into a long historical storytelling legacy. These paintings are also layered with a subverted and moderninsed traditional Polish paper cut (Wycinanki), with collaged cotton crochet doilies.
Exhibition, Pleat of Mind
September 2013
Exhibition was held at: Stephen McLaughlan Gallery
Level 8 Room 16 The Nicholas Building, 37 Swanston St Melbourne with Mary Gray
“The pleat is a doubling up, a layering of material - somewhat like our identities which are a construct of many characteristics, experiences and expressions folded over one another.
The inner folds, pleat of mind, hide the darker or flip side of femininity - few women would openly identify with them - she’s prickly, the bad girl, the bitch, the femme fatale.” A.Kuzmycz
September 2013
Exhibition was held at: Stephen McLaughlan Gallery
Level 8 Room 16 The Nicholas Building, 37 Swanston St Melbourne with Mary Gray
“The pleat is a doubling up, a layering of material - somewhat like our identities which are a construct of many characteristics, experiences and expressions folded over one another.
The inner folds, pleat of mind, hide the darker or flip side of femininity - few women would openly identify with them - she’s prickly, the bad girl, the bitch, the femme fatale.” A.Kuzmycz
The forthcoming documentary currently in post production.
I have interviewed jewellery designer William Llewellyn Griffiths, designer and Illustrator Beci Orpin, artist Rowena Martinich and costume designer Caitlin Cisek, to learn about their creative process.
Keep and eye out for a release dates and screenings.
A series of conversations with creatives to uncover the hidden story behind their work. Spanning diverse disciplines each installment is a deep dive into an individual story. We explore the push and pull between creativity and process, highlighting surprising similarities and the glaring differences faced. Ultimately, sharing individual struggles and clever strategies that sustain successful creative careers.
Episode 1 - Sam Leach in his Brunswick studio.
Duration 36:22
Production Team
Alicja Kuzmycz, Luis Roberto Día, Aiden Hudson-Davies
Music Daniel Collis
Digital illustrations 2021
Illustrations using an iPad, digital pen and Procreate
Illustrations using an iPad, digital pen and Procreate
Project t - Barista Upgrade Campaign illustrations
Concept, illustration and design. Illustrations are hand drawn and coloured in photoshop.
Concept, illustration and design. Illustrations are hand drawn and coloured in photoshop.
Repeat print textile designs
A miix of hand-drawn motifs assembled in Adobe Illustrator to create repeat patterns.
A miix of hand-drawn motifs assembled in Adobe Illustrator to create repeat patterns.
Ox3 Campaign
A brand awarness campaign to explain the different Ox3 blends, launched during the Melbourne Design Market with a coffee cart to trial product. Posters, Postcards and Instagram collateral.
Concept, Illustration and Design.
A brand awarness campaign to explain the different Ox3 blends, launched during the Melbourne Design Market with a coffee cart to trial product. Posters, Postcards and Instagram collateral.
Concept, Illustration and Design.
