IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE?
A graphic design research symposium

Wednesday 12 September 2007
1.30pm–5.00pm

The symposium has two main aims:
(a) to demystify the process of embarking on a research degree;
(b) to encourage Doctoral research in graphic design, and its related 
subject areas.

The event will reveal different approaches to research in graphic 
design, and feature three case studies by researchers at the point of 
completing their PhD. As well as reflecting on their experience, they 
will discuss a range of academic and non-academic issues, offering the 
opportunity to talk informally about concerns such as: funding; 
locating research study; part-time versus full-time; the balance 
between theory and practice; the demands on personal and professional 
life.

Who will this be of interest to?
Those interested in pursuing a career in research; final year and 
post-graduate students in graphic design and related fields of interest; 
supervisors and potential supervisors; managers in Higher Education; 
and practising designers.

Admission is free
But all attendees will need to register their intention to come before 
Wednesday 5 September—numbers will be limited.

Venue
Bonington Lecture Theatre · Bonington Building · School of Art & Design 
· Nottingham Trent University · Dryden Street · Nottingham · United 
Kingdom


PROGRAMME

1.30pm — Welcome
2.00pm — Introduction · Robert Harland · Nottingham Trent University
2.10pm — Keynote address · Professor Teal Triggs · University of the 
Arts London
2.40pm — Student case study one · Dr Joyce Yee · Northumbria University
3.00pm — Student case study two · Joe Eastwood · Independent 
practitioner
3.20pm — Student case study three · Rob Hillier · Norwich School of Art 
& Design
3.40pm — Break
4.10pm — The professional context · John McMillan · International 
Society of Typographic Designers
4.30pm — Plenary session
5.00pm — Close


SPEAKERS

Joe Eastwood is a PhD student at Chelsea College of Art & Design, 
London. His practice-based study explores the relationship between 
text-based messages and audio-based communication within the 
contemporary urban environment. The research is concerned with how 
elements of text and audio design within the urban landscape influence 
navigating city environments, and if the fusion of text and audio 
design can work together to improve the clarity of wayfinding through 
urban spaces for pedestrians. He is currently in the process of forming 
typo//com, a visual communication company based in Manchester.

Robert Harland is a Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader for BA(Hons) 
Graphic Design at Nottingham Trent University, and a part-time research 
student at The University of Nottingham School of Built Environment. 
His research focus is the relationship between graphic design and urban 
design. Before pursuing an academic career he spent 15 years in private 
practice in London, working for a range of national and multi-national 
clients in United Kingdom, Belgium, France, Germany and Portugal in the 
private and public sector. He is a Member of the International Society 
of Typographic Designers and Fellow of the Chartered Society of 
Designers.

Robert Hillier is a Senior Lecturer in graphic design at Norwich School 
of Art and Design. He is due to complete his practice-based PhD “A 
typeface for the adult dyslexic reader” in July 2007. His research has 
resulted in the testing, development and design of a number of 
typefaces including the design of Sylexiad. The first independent 
practical use of Sylexiad was for the neveroddoreven project that 
culminated in an exhibition at The Serpentine Gallery and conference at 
the Goethe-Institut in 2007. The findings of his research were presented 
at the Fast Type, Slow Type conference at Birmingham in 2006.

John McMillan is a graphic designer and educator. As Education Officer 
for the International Society of Typographic Designers (istd) he runs 
the Annual Student Assessment Scheme. In its 32nd year, assessments are 
held in United Kingdom, Ireland, Lebanon and South Africa with planning 
for Australia, the Far East and a possible resumption in Europe. Prior 
to ISTD activity he was an executive member of the Association of 
Graphic Design Educators (GRADE) and a Regional Chair of CSD. His ‘day 
job’ is a Senior Lecturer, Subject Leader and Course Director at the 
University of Ulster in Belfast.

Teal Triggs is Professor of Graphic Design and Head of Research, School 
of Graphic Design, London College of Communication, University of the 
Arts London. Her research interests include graphic design history, 
theory and education. She is co-editor of the academic 
interdisciplinary journal Visual Communication (Sage Publications) and 
has edited two special issues: Screens and the Social Landscape (2006, 
co-editor with Dr Carey Jewitt) and The New Typography (2005, editor). 
She is author of The Typographic Experiment: Radical Innovations in 
Contemporary Type Design (2003) and, co-editor with Dr Roger Sabin of 
‘Below Critical Radar’: Fanzines and Alternative Comics From 1976 to 
Now (2000). She is currently working on a new book about fan culture 
and fanzines. A co-Director of a new University of the Arts London 
research unit on Information Environments (I.E.), Triggs is also a 
founding member of the Research Faculty of the Institute of Urban 
Information (IUI) and a Fellow of the International Society of 
Typographic Designers.

Joyce Yee is a practising designer and researcher in visual 
communication. She is part of the New Media team at the Centre for 
Design Research, Northumbria University,  Newcastle upon Tyne. She has 
over 10 years experience in graphic and new media design consultancy 
and 5 years in design research. She was trained as a graphic designer 
and received an MA in Visual Communication at London’s Central Saint 
Martins School of Art and Design. Joyce has recently completed a PhD 
degree at Northumbria University, on developing a practice-led 
framework to promote the practise and application of typography across 
different media. Her research interests are in the areas of: text-based 
communication in a multi-modal environment, typographic education for 
digital media and practice-based research methods for designers.

If you wish to attend email details to  [log in to unmask]  
before Wednesday 5 September.

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