As a practicing professional Graphic Designer I contribute to the University of Dundee and its students a professional knowledge of design at the interface between business and the creative industries.
My role has been unique due to the cross disciplinary element of my teaching, having been involved with Graphic Design, Illustration, Design Studies (Product Design & Interactive Media Design), Dissertation supervision, Design & the Market Mentoring, Postgraduate Futures Placement Module and the development of a new module, Design Values, Issues & Ethics.
As a result I bring an understanding of design practice, which questions current contemporary issues affecting the design practitioner, such as environmental and ethical issues. These issues cross both business and education platforms and are cultural objectives for the future of design, the economic wealth of our country, the health of our planet and the future of higher education through the development of our curricula. This has resulted in me introducing innovative and appropriate working practices into the programs I have been involved in.
ISAM DUNDEE 2015
The International Society of Addiction Medicine(ISAM) will hold their annual conference in Dundee, Scotland, in October 2015. DJCAD was invited to facilitate an art exhibition of work that brings the local community and the scientific conference together.This will enhance the scientific programme of the conference and inspire new dialogue through this partnership.
Through art and design, DJCAD has supported a series of projects that observe and examine the issue of substance misuse. Through projects that promote an awareness of substance misuse to various target audiences, we have developed relationships with local communities and organisations, where art and design has used narratives to inform visual outputs. The visual outputs address the Stigma associated with substance misuse and endeavour to promote meaningful messages that can begin to change society’s perception of individuals living with the problem. DJCAD have also been working with Education Scotland to develop a set of ‘toolkits’ aimed at either schoolchildren or students, helping them to understand some of the issues surrounding substance use and misuse.
THE CREATIVE COOKBOOK
A Communication Design level 2 interdisciplinary student project ‘The Living Field’ asked students to submit a recipe page towards the production of a Student Cookbook, aimed at students beginning life at University away from home. A recipe was donated by actor Brian Cox and the resulting Creative Cookbooks were sold for £5 with all proceeds being donated to Signpost International, a local charity working with underprivileged communities in Africa and Asia, helping them to produce their own food, ensuring the sustainability of their families and surrounding communities.
This project allowed students to realise the impact their design can have on a global platform, despite it targeting a local audience.
For the last 15 years I have provided tutorial support through personal and set projects within the Graphic Design department of DJCAD.
As a professional graphic designer projects are delivered to enhance the student’s learning experience and I introduced an exhibition as part of the curriculum to level 2 students. It involved them producing 3 dimensional typographic installations.
