Summary

Dan McCabe has over 26 years’ experience as a creative practitioner in branding and packaging design, alongside 19 years as a design educator.

Through his research, Dan has been at the forefront of exploring the role of graphic-designer-as-historian, producing a series of works devoted to rethinking heraldry, which was showcased in the internationally recognised handbook Visual Research.  

He has presented on modern heraldry and creative historiography at institutions including the Society of Antiquaries and the University of Oxford, and has published papers and practice-based research in academic journals such as The Coat of Arms and The Poster.

Dan self-publishes practice-based research, as well as collaborative and personal projects, through his online platform, graphicamusing.co.uk, which functions both as a pedagogical resource and as a site for professional dissemination.

As an academic practitioner, he provides pro bono brand design consultancy to not-for-profit organisations and ethically driven initiatives, often working collaboratively with colleagues and students. He regularly coordinates industry-facing projects and site visits with external agencies including I Love Dust, Tilt, UnitedUs and Supple Studio, strengthening links between education and professional practice.

Dan is Associate Head (Global Engagement and Education Partnerships) in the School of Architecture, Art and Design, and Course Leader for the MA Visual Communication programme at the University of Portsmouth. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a member of the Heraldry Society, as well as a bassist, birder, beachcomber and badge collector.

Dan welcomes enquiries from the media regarding his research and subject area. He can be contacted on 023 92 84 5643 or dan.mccabe@port.ac.uk.