Profile

Sarah Houghton, Course Leader Graphic Design

Sarah is currently the course leader of the BA(Hons) Graphic Design and BA(Hons) Communication Design where she has been a lecturer since 1997.  She holds a BA (Hons) in Graphic Design and was awarded a scholarship to study for her MA in Digital Media where her focus was around the creative and appropriate use of online learning environments specifically for art, design and media students.  This research led to her appointment as a research associate on a European funded project LEDA (Learning environments for a Digital Academy) which was set up to define, develop and test a networked system and the underlying pedagogical procedures to facilitate and promote active learning experiences for international centred postgraduate education.  Other research collaborations include – “Carrion Culture” published by the University of Portsmouth and exhibited at Mainz Mini Presse, Germany and at Chaumont Poster Festival, Chaumont France. 

Sarah has worked as a web designer in industry and as freelancer. She has been a visiting tutor at Kingston University, Southampton Solent University and summer schools at Central Saint Martins.  In 2003 she was involved with setting up and running an art gallery, “Ultraviolet” in Southsea.  The main focus of which was an extensive website and providing a real and virtual platform for artists to exhibit.  In 2005 she won a teaching and learning award for good practice in the development of Professional Practice units.

Sarah aims to utilise and develop the creative use of interactive digital technology within design education.  She maintains and promotes good links with a successful creative network of alumni and professionals through online networking sites, various projects and local design organisations such as the South Coast Design Forum which encourages collaboration and networking between creative designers of all disciplines.