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 User Experience (UX) within the context of education and practice.
John is Course Director for Visual Communication at Staffordshire University and is completing a PhD with the working title of; ‘Responsible User Interface design and the Educational Context’. He has an MA 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 'Effects of user Interface on the Human Lived Experience. Current
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 to present
Blast London, designer, 2009-10
Envisage, designer 2009-11
Academic
Course Director, Visual Communication 2020-current.
Senior Lecturer, BA (Hons) Graphic Design, Illustration and Advertising Staffordshire University, 2010-2020
Supervisor, Masters by Negotiated Study, Staffordshire University, 2014-Current
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 2013
Design Talks, Research & Publications
Speaker / Paper Presenter at:
Advance HE Artificial Intelligence in HE Symposium. Speaker 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. Plymouth 2015
Keele University Student Activism Conference 2014
Keele Student Sustainability Conference 2013.
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’ 2013
Keele University Sustainability Hub. ‘Responsible Design’ 2013
External Examiner
FdA Graphic Design and Digital Media. City of Bristol College / University of Plymouth. Current
External Advisory Validating panel FdA Graphic Design Leeds College of Art. 2016
Professional Memberships
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Graphic Design Educators' Network
EACA European association of communications agencies
EAUC sustainable Universities organisation
D&AD
YCN
Other Stuff
Foundation Degree link tutor 2012 -14
East London Printmakers Attendee Bookbinding Workshops 2014
East London Printmakers Attendee Printmaking Course 2014
Incline Press Oldham – Letterpress Workshops 2012
Exhibitions
Plus+ Experimental Typography Birmingham 2010
Made you Look – Poster Exhibition Plymouth University 2014