Graphic Design MA: Events and lectures

'Interdependence' is a series of lectures for postgraduate design students in which leading practitioners explore the key issues for the creative industries.

For example, in 'Help Change The World During Working Hours' Tim Ashton (Antidote), a former Kingston graduate, and Eugenie Harvey (We Are What We Do) discussed themes from their latest book. The seminar 'Now Voyager: Greg Votolato in conversation with Anne Wealleans' was held at the V&A Museum, London.

In September 2007, the School of Art & Design History hosted the Annual Conference of the Design History Society. Entitled 'Design/Body/Sense', the conference explored the physical and sensual histories and experiences of design.

There are always interesting activities taking place at Kingston and exciting opportunities to take advantage of. Here are some examples of what you could be involved with if you study this course.

The range of events and lectures in the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture enhances your studies and adds an extra perspective to your learning.

Research lectures and events

The Drawing Research Group organises:

• a public drawing lecture series – funded in part by the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art;
• drawing masterclasses – covering topics such as hybrid anatomy and digital drawing;
• conferences; and
• exhibitions of artists' work. 

The Curating Contemporary Design Research Group organises:

• an active visiting professor programme – which has included Craig Miller (Denver Museum of Art) and Pablo Helguera (Guggenheim Museum, NY);
• a series of Stanley Picker Design Research Fellows – the first of whom was Charles Kriel; and
• a series of themed research conferences with leading London museums entitled Collecting Now.

Currently visiting the UK as part of the British Council's International Cultural Leadership programme, Samer Yamani is a professional design curator working in Syria and Barcelona. Also the director of the Creative Dialogue Association (CDA), a private, independent and not-for-profit association, based in Barcelona, Samer will contribute to the international perspective and application of the Connecting Contemporary Designers project, by sharing his experience of creating links between creative people from around the world.

With a complementary vision to our project, CDA has the objective of promoting creative dialogue among various creative disciplines in order to bring forward a new space of creativity and interchange between creative sectors in different countries that can be reflected in their cultural and economic life.  Through projects like the Design Road Project, where CDA visited several cities in the Middle East introducing leading designers and artists to local universities to share their knowledge and expertise, Samer will share with the teams the impact that local application of global knowledge can have.

In addition, Samer is currently working with Delfina Foundation, an organisation that facilitates artistic residencies and related public events in the UK, Middle East and North Africa.