Mr Geoffrey Grandfield
Associate Professor Head of Illustration Animation Department
Contact
- Email: g.grandfield@kingston.ac.uk
- Location: Kingston School of Art, Knights Park
- Faculty: Kingston School of Art
- School: School of Design
- Department: Department of Illustration Animation
About
I was appointed Head of Department of Illustration Animation in 2016, having previously been Course Director of BA Illustration Animation for 12 years at Kingston and previously BA Illustration Programme Leader for 12 years at Middlesex University.
I lead the Department's undergraduate and postgraduate taught provision, teaching across the programmes, and supervise illustration practice-based PhD students.
My academic career has been shaped by my own illustration practice and my keen interest in the subject, its role and future potential. I am co-founder of the Illustration think-tank ‘Mokita' and have contributed to a number of subject events and conferences in the UK and internationally. The understanding and development of the subject within education and its ability to prototype effective and innovative forms of communication forms the basis of the Departmental strategy of outward-facing audience engagement.
Areas of specialism
- Illustration practice and theory
Courses taught
Undergraduate
Postgraduate
Qualifications
- Illustration MA (Royal College of Art)
- Illustration BA (first) Maidstone College of Art
Industry links
University of Lincoln - External Examiner BA (Hons) Illustration
Oxford Brookes University, - External Examiner MA Drawing
The Open University, Hull School of Art - External panel member, validating BA (Hons) Graphic Design
University College for the Creative Arts, Canterbury - External panel member, validating - BA (Hons) Illustration & Animation
University of Worcester - External panel member, Revalidating BA (Hons) Illustration
University of West of England - External Examiner BA (Hons) Illustration
London College of Communication, University of the Arts - External panel member, validating MA Illustration & Visual Media
The Open University, Hull School of Art -External panel member, validating BA (Hons) Illustration
University of Brighton - External Examiner MA Narrative & Sequential Illustration
Leeds Metropolitan University - External Examiner BA (Hons) Graphic Arts
University College for the Creative Arts, Farnham - External panel member, validating BA (Hons) Illustration
University of the Arts Camberwell, London - External Examiner, MA Visual Arts, Illustration/Designermaker/Graphic Design pathways
Cardiff School of Art & Design, University of Wales - External Examiner, BA (Hons) Illustration
University of the Arts Camberwell, London - External Examiner, BA (Hons) Illustration
Solent University, Southampton External panel member, validating BA (Hons) Illustration
Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah GA, USA External Validation Event, panel member representing illustration
University College of Creative Arts, Maidstone Campus - validation panel, FdA Illustration
Cardiff School of Art & Design, University of Wales - validation panel BA (Hons) Illustration
University of Brighton - External Examiner BA (Hons) Graphic Design (Illustration)
University of Derby - External Examiner BA (Hons) Illustration
BA (Hons) Illustration for Animation Edinburgh College of Art - External Examiner BA (Hons) Illustration
M Dip Illustration
Bath Spa University College - External Examiner BA(Hons) Graphic Design (Illustration)
Falmouth College of Art - validation panel MA Illustration
Research
My practice as an illustrator commissioned for over 30 years has shaped my understanding and approach to both pedagogy and research in the discipline.
The interpretation of film into a static visual form has been a preoccupation and currently I am interested in how to understand advanced practice as a means to represent the application of visual research.
My process uses illustration methodology as a synthesis of visual forms derived from the specific content, the period when the work to be interpreted was authored, and the contemporaneous. As part of my research strategy, I aim to use my practice to explore the reflective dialogue with materials of a design situation and through iteration to frame and reframe the design problem and solution.
Outputs have ranged from illustrated book series of particular authors, covers of DVD film editions, narrative application to environment and objects.