Tanya Knannlein

Tanya has been teaching in the School of Apparel Design & Development at Seattle Central College for over 20 years and has a background as a clothing and textile designer.  

Her areas of teaching specialty are design, textiles and technology.  In 2023, Tanya earned a Master’s Degree focusing on sustainable fashion at the University of Applied Sciences in Berlin, and created a collection as proof of concept which explores circular design principles, upcycling, and machine knitting. 

Creation is also an avocation for Tanya, whether it be textile designs, sweaters, drawings, or pottery. Tanya says, 
"I work to reconcile this need to create with the urgency of economic, social and ecological sustainability. I seek to infuse my teaching with user-centered instructional design, smart product design, and the joy of creativity."

When Tanya is not teaching or knitting, she loves spending time with family and friends, and enjoys travel, being in nature, dancing, and live music.

Tanya's industry experience includes freelance textile design, design consulting for companies, and instructing professionals in use of design technology. Prior to teaching, Tanya held several roles at Tommy Bahama, building to lead the men’s design team as Product Manager. Additionally, she has worked for several small clothing and equipment manufacturers which gave her knowledge of production manufacturing processes in sweater knits and technical diving gear in addition to sportwear.