BA (Hons) Graphic Design (Jan 2025 Start)

Dedicated to teaching both theory and practice since 1999, Mel began teaching at Arts University Plymouth in 2004. She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, AUP Teaching Fellow and RSA Fellow. Mel’s skills and experience are consolidated in her role as Assistant Dean and Principal Lecturer, having long since decided that working alongside the next generation of designers and creatives was exactly where she wanted to be. Previously course leader for BA (Hons) Illustration, Mel built a team of dedicated staff to help shape the identity and curriculum of the course, and the Illustration provision at Arts University Plymouth grew from strength to strength Current pedagogic research is focused on play and the role of curiosity in creative learning. Mel has presented papers at conferences across the UK and Europe: Illustr4tio International Conference (‘Illustration as Reparation’ 2019), GLAD Conference (‘Trading Places: Developing a Model for Interdisciplinary Practice’ 2017), HEA Annual Arts and Humanities Conference (‘The Great Editorial Race: the serious business of play’ 2016), ELIA Teachers Conference (‘The Serious Business of Play’ 2015). She is co-author of journal paper ‘Drawing Thinking: Illustration as Pedagogy' with AUP Senior lecturer Jason Hirons. With a BA (Hons) in Graphic Design and MA in Visual Culture from Bath Spa University, in her own practice Mel is obsessed with discarded books and abandoned photographs and seemingly random pieces of ephemera. Through drawing and collage Mel plays with juxtaposition to transform the use, meaning and interpretation of the images she finds and a recurring theme is the plight of lost, broken and damaged things. As part of Mel's role as Assistant Dean, she assists the Dean of Art, Design & Media in the academic & operational leadership of undergraduate Design courses at Arts University Plymouth, driving pedagogic innovation and supporting subject specialisms in Design.She is an active committee member and convenor of the Making Learning research group.

Jason is an artist, writer and educator with an interest in the detritus, flotsam and jetsam of the everyday. Other areas of interest include landscape, walking, critical writing, comics, Actor Network Theory, poetry and performative practices. Since 2001 he has been walking, collecting and archiving the city of Plymouth; this work has been realised in a number of ways, including published texts, performances (locally, nationally and internationally), installations, and public talks. Jason studied Performance Writing at Dartington College of Arts followed by a Masters by Research in Landscape at the University of Plymouth, and he is currently a doctoral candidate at the Institute of Education, where his research involves speculations on the future of the art school and communities of practice. As one half of Driftingspace and a founding member of the art and architecture group Interchange, Jason explores the possibilities of place, space and critical education as a conduit for transformational learning. He also runs theopenartschool, which includes the ongoing microlecture series #5minutecontext, hosted on his Instagram account @JasonHirons. For years Jason led and coordinated the Contextual Studies modules at Arts University Plymouth, and he currently teaches on the BA (Hons) Illustration, Masters in Art, Masters in Photography, and MFA programmes, and is the Course Leader for Distance Learning at Arts University Plymouth. Jason is the Course Leader for Distance Learning, teaching across BA Commercial Photography, Graphic Communication, Fashion Design, Fashion Marketing, Illustration, and Interior Design and ensuring the smooth running of the programme. This role means he works with international students from around the world. He also leads and teaches on in-person modules BA (Hons) Illustration, Masters in Fine Art, Masters in Photography, Masters in Printmaking, and MFA programmes.

Jack Viant graduated from Arts University Plymouth with a BA (Hons) Illustration in 2015. Previously, Jack has been a Graduate Studentship Lecturer at the university, working alongside the Careers team, students and lecturers. Jack currently lectures on BA (Hons) Illustration at Arts University Plymouth. “As a Studentship Lecturer I work primarily with 1st year degree students and I provide confidence boosting and guidance as well as a mass amount of online visual resources which assist students in making the most out of their time and resources here at the college. Additionally I offer advice and guidance concerning my experience in the art industry as well as supporting the whole ‘good student bad student paradigm’ I aim to guide students along the correct path!” As well as working at the university Jack also focuses on his work as a Freelance Illustrator. Jack has worked with clients including Oxford University Press, Woodmansterne publications, Supha's Street Food Emporium, Syfy, OKIDO Magazine, Hallmark Cards, Dartmoor Zoo, Animated Exeter and Plymouth History Week. Specialising in children’s illustrations, Jack is published by Bloomsbury, Miles Kelly, Hachette and Oxford University Press, and represented by the Bright Agency. “My work is playful and abstract. A lot of my imagery is influenced by vintage edgy cartoons and the surrealist movement. My work is composed digitally but contains hand rendered textures and other elements which are then implemented and manipulated digitally. I enjoy the thought of perpetual chaos! “ Visit Jack’s website: www.jiantillustration.co.uk