Discover the CSM Museum & Study Collection with Dayna Tohidi

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I’m Dayna, a curator and lecturer based in London. My background is in Fashion Journalism, which I studied at Central Saint Martins. However I quickly moved into fashion curation after being offered a maternity cover role as the Curriculum Development Curator at the CSM Museum & Study Collection.

Since then, my practice has focused on object-based learning, particularly supporting neurodivergent students of colour. My interest in this area began at the British Museum’s multi-sensory learning conference, and I later developed it further through a year of research during my PgCert Academic Practice.

Outside of work, I love cooking comforting meals, baking to satisfy my sweet tooth, trying new workout classes around London, and spending time with family and friends.

What do you do day to day?

As a part-time curator at the CSM Museum & Study Collection and a freelance lecturer at CSM, no two weeks are the same. In the Museum, I catalogue acquisitions and donations so they are searchable in our online catalogue, develop and install exhibitions with my team for our permanent window display opposite Waitrose, and share our activities with the public through CSM Stories and Instagram. In my lecturing role, I collaborate with course teams across the college to develop object-based learning workshops that can be embedded into the curriculum and support students with their primary research, critical thinking, and visual references.

Are you currently working on any creative projects?

At CSM, I’m collaborating with my BA Fashion Year 1 colleagues to develop workshops that will support the first project all pathways will do in October, which lays the foundation of their fashion design studies. I’m also working on developing content for an online professional development workshop I will deliver later that month for the Chanel Paris and US teams.

What do you most enjoy about teaching?

I love the creative aspect of brainstorming new ideas, finding new objects to teach with, and translating them into workshops that will enhance the student experience at CSM. It is incredibly rewarding to see students light up with excitement and curiosity when they engage with historical and contemporary objects related to their creative practice.

Fun fact: my very first teaching opportunity came through UAL Short Courses in 2022, when I was invited to cover a Fashion Journalism class. I had no idea at the time how much that day would change the direction of my career!

What’s your advice to someone feeling stuck in their practice?

When I feel stuck, I try to consume something related to my practice, whether that is an article, podcast, exhibition, or even an event opening. Boredom can also be surprisingly useful, because it gives you the distance to see things differently. Some of my best ideas have come to me in the shower, including my final major project at CSM!

What’s your best piece of advice for a beginner?

Engage with your practice in the real world. With so much digital content at our fingertips, it is easy to stay online, but nothing beats meeting people, learning from their experiences, and feeding that inspiration back into your own work.

Networking and trying different roles are invaluable. Before I settled into curation and teaching, I explored journalism, marketing, PR, and styling. Every misstep helped me refine what I enjoyed. My advice is to work hard, trust the process, say yes to opportunities, and do not be afraid to make mistakes. They often lead to the most meaningful growth.