Ms Rachel Gannon

Kingston School of Art
Across departments
School of Design

Associate Professor and Head of School of Design

[email protected]

About

I am Head of the School of Design, as well as an illustrator, educator, and researcher. My work explores illustration as a disciplinary research practice, with a particular interest in its inter- and transdisciplinary potential. This research led to the co-authorship of Illustration Research Methods (Bloomsbury Academic, 2021), written with Dr Mireille Fauchon.

My academic and pedagogical practice is grounded in an 18-year professional career as an illustrator, and my research and practice-based work has been published in leading scholarly and professional publications in the field. As Head of School, I am committed to fostering innovative, collaborative, and inclusive approaches to design education.

Qualifications

MA Communication Art and Design - Royal College of Art
BA Graphic Design: Illustration - Norwich University of the Arts
Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice

Domains

My research interests lie in the potential of the discipline of illustration, its shifting landscape and innovative approaches to illustration methodologies, informed by a successful 18-year professional illustration career. I am an active researcher whose articles and practice-based works have been published in the leading research and professional publications in this subject. I am a member of the editorial board for the Journal of Illustration.

In 2021 I co-authored Illustration Research Methods (Bloomsbury, 2021), a dedicated critical and theoretical text offering a new discipline specific vocabulary to explore the processes and methods through which illustration now operates. Proposing ‘illustration' to be considered as holistic processes consisting of a range of project appropriate interpretative and creative practices rather than simply a finished outcome. Leading design theorist Steven Heller (School of Visual Arts, New York) publicly endorsed Illustration Research Methods as an ‘essential volume in the evolution of this significant discipline.' Similarly, Rick Poynor (Professor of Design and Visual Culture, Reading), said it makes a ‘vital contribution to the discipline's critical discourse'.

I have planned and developed significant research events, most notably organising and chairing the 11th annual conference for Illustration Research. Timed to coincide with the publication of Illustration Research Methods (2021) and thematically drawing upon the research I conducted in this area, Education and Illustration: Models Methods Paradigms (Kingston University, 2021) showcased and discussed multiple positions and levels within the pedagogic and professional illustration practice, highlighting pertinent contemporary disciplinary concerns and how these impact, and are impacted by, education and academic research culture. The event hosted 800+ delegates from 27 countries (the largest gathering of international illustration researchers, academics and practitioners).

I supervise PhD students working within illustration, animation, heritage and story-telling. I am also currently supervising a PhD student who is working at the intersection of design, anthropology, illustration and mycology (Edinburgh College of Art). I welcome proposals from prospective PhD or MA by Research students working in these areas.

Ms Rachel Gannon

About

Qualifications

Domains

Teaching and learning

Research

Publications

Articles

Books

Conference Items

Creative Works