About me
I'm thankful to have spent all my working life doing the things I enjoy most.
Being creative and helping people succeed.
I'm a visual communicator. I'm also a visual learner, and being able to bring the two together in the work that I do has been one of the most rewarding parts of my career.
Prior to leaving the UK in 2007, I'd spent 10 memorable years teaching.
I taught Graphic Design and led the Multimedia programme at National and Higher National Diploma level at Oldham College in the great northern town of Oldham. I worked there from 1997 through to 2002 and loved every moment of time at the college. I was part of an amazing Visual Arts academic team. Everyone pulled together for the greater good. Our collective efforts were rewarded with a Further Education Funding Council (FEFC) Grade 1 – Outstanding in 2001.
With the Multimedia programme, the focus was on exploration, creativity and a sound understanding of the software that made Multimedia different from anything we'd taught before. Back then it was Director, Flash, Fireworks and Dreamweaver, all from the mighty Macromedia. The projects were everything I always wanted to have as a student of Graphic Design but never seemed to get. Music promotional material, game packaging, movie title sequences, website development, animated presentations for car companies.
There was a pioneer spirit in the college design studios during those early start-up years. As the programme lead, I listened to my students. My approach was simple. If they wanted to tackle a particular project, as long as it could be worked into the curriculum without upsetting our course verifiers, I would make it happen. And the work that our students produced was incredible. Technically proficient with an underpinning design sensibility that degree students would have been happy to achieve.
That notion was echoed by our Edexcel verifier, who continually praised the course we ran and the work being produced as an example of best practice in this new, exciting creative field.
Many of the students who passed through our doors back then continue to practise in the creative arts. Our alumni include a few Art Directors, an Event Designer, a Playing Card Designer, a Photographer and a Games Developer. Not too shabby.
In 2002, my teaching tutor came to see me at Oldham College. He told me he was retiring. He also told me that he wanted me to take his place. I think the 'gulp' I let out was loud enough for most in the immediate vicinity to hear.
Me, rattling around the halls of academia over in Bolton. We spoke for a while about it and I decided it was a great opportunity that I'd be daft to let pass me by.
Me, rattling around the halls of academia over in Bolton. We spoke for a while about it and I decided it was a great opportunity that I'd be daft to let pass me by.