About
John is a UK based graphic designer, educator and researcher. He’s worked and freelanced in a number of high profile design studios for clients such as Sony, Nike, Toshiba, SAP and the BBC. Throughout his work John enjoys playing with ideas, mediums and process, resulting in a broad portfolio of work and outcomes. He has a deep interest in screen based and digital design within the context of education and ethical design process.
John has a wide range of academic and teaching experience (see below) and is completing a PhD with the working title of; Persuasive Technology and Digital Design; a pivot towards more responsible pedagogy.
He has a Masters in Sustainable Graphic Communication, awarded with distinction and a first class BA (Hons) Degree in Graphic Design. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and in the past was Programme leader for MA Digital Media at University of Worcester and taught visual communication at Newcastle College and Stafford College.
Education
PhD Practice Based Doctorate. Title: Persuasive Technology and Digital Design; a pivot towards more responsible pedagogy. Current (Final Year 2026)
MA Sustainable Graphic Communication (Distinction) 2013
BA Hons Graphic Design (First Class) 2007
PgCHPE (Distinction) 2016
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) 2016
Design
Freelance, 2007—current
Blast London, designer, 2009-10
Envisage, designer 2009-11
Academic
Independent Assessor, BA Hons Creative Digital Design (Apprenticeship). Manchester Metropolitan University. MMU - current
PTL Lecturer Graphic Design. University of Staffordshire. current.
Course Director, Visual Communication 2020—2026. University of Staffordshire.
Senior Lecturer/CL, BA (Hons) Graphic Design, Illustration and Advertising Staffordshire University, 2010-2020
Supervisor, Masters by Negotiated Study, Staffordshire University, 2014—2026
Programme Leader, MA Digital Design University Worcester 2011-12
Lecturer in Graphic Design Foundation Degree Newcastle College
Teaching Fellowship awarded by HEA in 2016
Awards
D&AD New Blood 2010
Green Gown Award 2013
Innovation in Teaching Award Staffordshire University 2020
Speaker, Presenter, Research & Publications:
Where Art School Leads. GLAD Symposium. Speaker, Nottingham Trent University 2025
Advance HE Artificial Intelligence in HE Symposium. Speaker Birmingham UK 2024
The Use of Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education Conference. Speaker Staffordshire University 2024
Advance HE Teaching and Learning Conference; Enhancing student success through education for sustainable development. 2022
Seventeenth International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic & Social Sustainability. February 2021
Canterbury Christ Church University: The fierce urgency of now: Navigating paradoxes in sustainability education. May 2020
Manchester Metropolitan University. Sustainability within the Curriculum Conference 2017
Staff Research Conference: Staffordshire University, 2017
HEA education for sustainability Conference. University of Plymouth 2015
Keele Student Sustainability/Activism Conference 2014.
International design and sustainability conference Hiroshima, Japan 2013
Typo Berlin, Typography Conference 2012
Ubiquitous Learning Conference University of Berkeley California 2012
Published work:
Computer Arts Magazine. Can Graphic Design Save the world? 2014
On Sustainability journal. ‘The Responsible Designer’
Keele University Sustainability Hub. ‘Responsible Design’
External Examiner
External Examiner OCA (Open University) Graphic Design current 2026—2030
External Advisory Validating panel BA Graphic Design Birmingham City University. 2024
BA Graphic Design and Digital Media. City of Bristol College & University of Plymouth. 2018—2023
External Advisory Validating panel FdA Graphic Design Leeds College of Art.
Professional Memberships
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Graphic Design Educators' Network
EACA European association of communications agencies
EAUC sustainable Universities organisation
D&AD
Other Stuff
East London Printmakers Attendee Bookbinding Workshops
East London Printmakers Attendee Printmaking Course
Incline Press Oldham – Letterpress Workshops
Exhibitions
Dark Patterns, Henrion Gallery 2026
Plus+ Experimental Typography Birmingham
Made you Look – Poster Exhibition Plymouth University