Martha Ladly facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Martha Ladly
Ladly in 2011
Nationality	Canadian
Occupation	Academic designer musician
Known for	Associate Professor of Interaction Design

Martha Jane Ladly is a talented Canadian academic, designer, and musician. She teaches design as a professor at OCAD University. Martha Ladly is also well-known for her music career. She gained international fame as a member of the rock band Martha and the Muffins. Later, she had a solo music career in the 1980s. After that, she focused on design and education.

Martha Ladly's Music Journey

Martha Ladly in 1982, when she was with the Associates.

While studying at the Ontario College of Art in Toronto, Martha Ladly joined the new wave band Martha and the Muffins in 1978. She was one of two singers and keyboard players named Martha in the group. The other Martha was Martha Johnson. Martha Johnson sang lead on most of the band's songs. This included their biggest hit, "Echo Beach", released in 1980.

Martha Ladly played with the band from 1978 to 1980. She sang lead vocals on their seventh single, "Was Ezo", which she also wrote. In August 1980, Martha left the band after receiving an art scholarship. She then moved to the United Kingdom. There, she released two solo songs: "Finlandia" and "Light Years from Love". The song "Light Years from Love" featured Peter Hook playing bass.

Creative Work in England

While in England, Martha Ladly continued her interests in music and visual art. She became friends with many popular British musicians. The band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark credits Martha for suggesting titles for their music. These included their 1981 album Architecture & Morality and their 1984 song "Tesla Girls".

In 1982, Martha Ladly sang backing vocals for Roxy Music. She also joined the Scottish post-punk band the Associates. She even appeared with them on the TV show Top of the Pops. She left the Associates in 1986. After that, she worked with Robert Palmer's band.

Martha also worked in visual arts and design with designer Peter Saville. Her painting Factus 8 was used by Saville for the cover of New Order's EP 1981–1982 in 1982.

From 1992 to 2001, Martha Ladly worked with musician Peter Gabriel. She was the manager of Real World Design and editor of Real World Notes.

Martha Ladly's Solo Songs

• 1981 – "Finlandia"
• 1983 – "Light Years from Love"

Martha Ladly's Academic Career

In 2012, Martha Ladly was named associate dean of graduate studies at the Ontario College of Art and Design. She is an associate professor of design. Her special area is interactive communication. This involves how people interact with technology and design.

She also helps students as a mentor with the Canadian Film Centre's Interactive Project Lab (IPL). She is a faculty member with the Habitat Interactive Art and Entertainment Program. Before her role at OCAD, she was the creative director for HorizonZero. This was an online publication that worked with the Banff New Media Institute and Culture Canada.

Awards and Recognitions

Martha Ladly has received several awards for her work in design and music:

• 2007: SSHRC: Principal Investigator for the ITST Mobile Nation Conference Grant.
• 2007: Canadian Design Research Network: Co-Principal Investigator for Mobile Nation Publications, Workshops and Dissemination Grant.
• 2006: Portage: Co-applicant for the Canadian Heritage New Media Research Network.
• 2005-06: The Mobile Digital Commons Network 2: Co-applicant for the Canadian Heritage New Media Research Network.
• 1996, 1982: British Designers and Art Directors Association (D&AD): Silver Citation for Best Multimedia Packaging Design for 'EVE'. Silver Citation for Best Record Sleeve Design for New Order single "Everything's Gone Green".
• 1994: American Recording Academy: Grammy Award Nomination for Best Record Sleeve Packaging Design for Peter Gabriel Secret World Live.
• 1981: Canadian Juno Award: for Single of the Year with Martha and the Muffins for the song "Echo Beach".