Laura walker

Teaching practice

Senior lecturer, BA (Hons) Fashion Branding and Communication – Arts University Bournemouth.
PGCAP (University of Southampton) + Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) + MA Graphic Design – Distinction (Arts University Bournemouth).

I draw from all aspects of my professional industry experience and personal work to inform my academic practice. I have developed a strong student-centred approach to my teaching practice with a focus on student experience and nurturing students’ individuality. I am now utilising my extensive industry and academic experience in my role as Senior Lecturer for BA (Hons) Fashion Branding and Communication at Arts University Bournemouth.

The Curiosity Initiative – Curious Thursdays.
Devised and delivered collaboratively with colleague, Sarah James.

These extra-curricular Thursday evening sessions employ simple, exploratory making techniques to ignite student curiosity and risk-taking. Sessions are not taught and establish ‘not knowing’ as a starting point. Equivalency between coordinators and participants facilitates discovery and discussion about making, process and thinking. The sessions so far have led to a number of unexpected outcomes relating to inclusivity and social interaction. Sessions allow for flexible levels of interaction.

curious thursdays poster2 — Each session is publicised with its own poster.

Repeat attendees have referred to Curious Thursdays sessions as a ‘safe space for creativity and exploration’. Curious Thursdays have had an impact on taught sessions evidenced through increased breadth of thinking regarding final outcomes and the possibilities of different materials. Simple acts (passing / sharing materials, asking each other for advice, etc.) undertaken in a non-threatening environment have led to greater connections and engagement within the course community. Popularity of the sessions has increased due to word of mouth from students. Occasionally, students have brought friends from other courses, suggesting that there is an appetite for this kind of session within other creative disciplines.

Images from various ‘Curious Thursdays’ sessions.

Research

Final Masters project – Temporal fiction

This project explored the relentlessness of time, as well as our individual experiences of time using reading as a conceptual metaphor. Through a series of reading challenges, it was hoped that the audience would reflect on their own experience of time and how this affects their lives. By exploring the links between reading and life, some of the experiments aimed to highlight the consequences of not taking action in our lives, which can lead to a state of atrophy. Ordinarily, time within the act of reading is controlled by the reader – how long they take to read a page, when they choose to read and how long they read for in total. However, in this project, the control of time was taken away from the reader, creating a somewhat warped experience.

IMG_3829 copy — Installation of final Masters project.

The series of experiments explored traditional and contemporary reading methods, looking at digital and print-based texts. All texts used within this project have a strong connection to time and / or the work of philosopher Henri Bergson, whose ideas about the differences between time and duration formed the basis for my investigation.

It is perplexing that we have to ‘make time’ to read, and as a result it often feels like a luxury when we allow ourselves these brief moments of respite in our hectic daily schedules. Some people experience joy and a sense of escapism during these periods of time, while others are plagued by a sense of guilt, a feeling that they should be doing something ‘more important’.

The experiments were:

Experiment 1: Punctuation system

What is it7
A punctuation system implementing a range of numbers5 The numbers are open to the interpretation of the reader2 they could perhaps denote a length of time3 a value3 an order of importance3 or a pattern5

What does it represent7
When I started thinking about time and reading3 I started researching some technical aspects of grammar and speech and how this can affect the timing of a piece of writing5 Then I realised that one of the main roles of punctuation is to control the pace of the piece5 In the act of considering the numbering punctuation system3 the reader is slowed and may even stop3 which almost mirrors the original job of punctuation5

Masters1

Experiment 2: Interactive book

What is it?
An interactive book specifically designed for iPad. If left unread, the pages continue to appear creating a backlog of words. Although, if the reader engages with the text, they can continue on as normal.

What does it represent?
Inactivity can lead to backlogs within our lives. Putting things off can seem like the easy option at the time but can lead to more work in the long run. This experiment is a comment on time’s relentless nature and whether we decide to actively engage with it or not, it continues incessantly. Our experiences of time can vary greatly depending on our level of participation.

Masters2

Experiment 3: Screen type

What is it?
An animation featuring kinetic typography. The timing varies throughout the piece, sometimes almost imperceptibly and at other times more explicitly, creating an unpredictable, uneasy reading experience.

What does it represent?
This piece not only abstracts the act of reading but the use of different clock and watch sound effects aims to heighten the frustration or anxiety felt by the reader. This piece aims to make the reader uncomfortable, encouraging them to reflect on other experiences in their lives where time has marched on at an alarming rate or painfully dragged its heels.

Masters4

Experiment 4: Self-turning book

What is it?
A book that turns itself at random. At first glance it seems to be an ordinary book on a stand, but it has hidden depths. The book is controlled by an Arduino attached to a motor.

What does it represent?
The idea behind this was it would turn itself at random, thus instilling a sense of panic and frustration in the reader. They never know when the page might turn and are therefore pressured to read as quickly as possible. It highlights the unpredictable nature of time which can take us by surprise.

SAM_5615

Book fairs

I have previously created work that was exhibited at the PAGES International Contemporary Artists’ Book Fair 2016 at The Tetley, in Leeds as well as the Bristol Artist’s Book Event (BABE) 2017 at the Arnolfini, in Bristol. My books tend to focus on the use of bold imagery and colours, challenging form and structure whilst maintaining delicate hierarchies of typography. All books are hand-crafted with careful attention to detail.

Professional practice

I studied Visual Communication before embarking on a career within the creative industries at a variety of award-winning design and advertising agencies. I have produced creative work for a range of national and international clients, such as Unilever Food Solutions, Samsung, Wyke Farms and Audible.co.uk, as well as a number of charities, including NSPCC, Plan UK, The RNLI and Alzheimer’s Research UK.

Being a process-driven maker, I also produce personal work with a range of materials and techniques. A lot of my work is textile based, using felt, cross-stitch and embroidery, often finding humour in the mundane. My expertise in typographic handling and graphic design influence much of my craft work.

Portfolio available upon request.

Handmade

I also enjoy working with traditional print methods and craft. I create work using lino printing and letterpress as well as making many small collectible items such as, soft toys and books. This year, I have been able to integrate some of these skills into my teaching practice through the extra-curricular ‘Curious Thursdays’ sessions that I have implemented. I am currently making work with cross-stitch, embroidery and paper-cut methods. Here’s a collection of my favourite bits and bobs that I’ve made recently: