Jake Leith

Jake Leith is the principal designer of The Jake Leith Partnership.

Born on November 18, 1958 in Bushey, Hertfordshire, Jake studied at Loughborough College of Art and Design, graduating with a BA(Hons) in Printed Textiles in 1981. Subsequently, in 1982, he completed an MA in Textiles & Fashion at the Birmingham Institute of Art and Design.

His professional career began in India as an Export Designer for Everest Fabrics, based in Uttar Pradesh, North India, designing and manufacturing printed furnishing fabrics and interior textiles for markets in Asia, Europe and North America. The latter included the design and supply of furnishing fabrics to Jack Lenor-Larsen in New York.

Free-lance work during this period included designing for International Linen and Liberty of London, and the Taj Hotel Group of India.

In 1984, Leith returned to the UK and became a Textile Advisor/Interior Designer for Europa Shop Equipment. Design projects included: Pineapple Dance Studios and Parrish of Newcastle. He co-founded the design consultancy Fantasy Finishes in 1985, specialising in paint finishes, murals and design-to-order wall-coverings. Clients included Monsoon, Anokhi, Oasis Trading and Vaux Breweries.

Since 1986 he has been the senior partner of the interior design company, The Jake Leith Partnership. Particular areas of expertise include, furnishing fabrics, wallcoverings and surface pattern - ranging from wrapping paper to stained glass.

Interior contracts have included: Barratt Homes, Beazer, BP, barristers' chambers at Lincoln's Inn and Gray's Inn, Intersport, Planmasters UK, SAS Holdings, Connections in Design and Communications Management.

During the 1990s, Leith realised that Business & Professional Practice was not a recognised area of study on most UK Art & Design courses. So he introduced such a programme at Loughborough University School of Art & Design, aiming to equip students with a range of transferable skills, qualities and attitudes to prepare them for life beyond graduation in the creative industries. In 1998 he was asked to co-ordinate Business & Professional Practice across the faculty. In 2003, he joined the University of Brighton and led Business & Professional Practice at the University's School of Art, Design & Media until June 2017. The role was combined with that of Academic Programme Leader for the Fashion & Textiles Programme, on four separate occasions.

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