Andi Armitage

Andi is an Academic, Designer and PhD researcher, Andi has twenty years of extensive experience and knowledge of teaching design in the HE sector as Senior Lecturer in Industrial Design, Director of Postgraduate Studies Product Design & Management at the University of Liverpool (UoL), Senior Lecturer and Course Leader BA, BSc Product Design at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan).

Andi's current research, Redesigning Art and Design Education, Past Present Future: Redefining Approaches in Art and Design Curriculum and Pedagogy

This project sets out to analyse past strategic innovations in art and design education with a view to informing current approaches in art and design curriculum and pedagogy, it intends to explore structural and cultural conditions for change and change management in this area. The project thus aims to future-proof art and design education, that is: increase the effectiveness of teaching and learning in art and design, by interconnecting exemplary traditions of reform and current innovative trans-disciplinary approaches to improve the effectiveness of art and design teaching and learning.

Using the historical example of the Liverpool School of Art, as a starting point for a historical-comparative study of exemplary cases in Germany and France as well as Britain, the project seeks to address a major gap in the current research in art and design education by analysing through a temporally-inflected lens, possibilities for innovatory practice in art and design curriculum and pedagogy. That is, it will map critical features of past strategic innovatory approaches in art and design education emerging from previous HE research to inform contemporary art and design curriculum and pedagogy. The project will focus in particular on innovations in terms of the development of the art and design curriculum, the adoption of signature trans-disciplinary pedagogic approaches, and the implementation of effective change management.

Fundamentality the study asks the questions what is taught and learnt, how it is taught and learnt, and what rationale underpins the “reason” for such.

Andi's experience and knowledge gained in his career acts as a foundation on which to research and understand the strategic role design education plays in HE, with an aim to inform future education change management.

Andi has recognised skills in delivering change and innovative quality teaching, experience of contributing across a wide spectrum of disciplines, managing and encouraging the crossover between specialist areas and collaborative practice. An experienced designer with a breadth of understanding of design processes, methodologies and design management. Andi has used his broad ranging experience to teach not only in Product Design as a Senior Lecturer, but also Fashion Brand Management, Marketing, Interior Design, Advertising, and Industrial Design.

Languages

English

Degrees

1997, Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom, M.Sc Product Design
1995, Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom, B.Ed (Hons) Design Technology (Secondary Ed)

Academic appointments

Director of Postgraduate Studies Product Design & Management, Engineering, University of Liverpool, 2016 - 2017
Senior Lecturer in Industrial Design, Engineering, University of Liverpool, 2015 - 2017
Senior Lecturer, School of Art Design & Performance, University of Central Lancashire, 1998 - 2014

Postgraduate training

PhD Design Education, United Kingdom, Liverpool John Moores University, 2018 - present
M.Sc Product Design, UK, Liverpool John Moores University, 1996 - 1997