- Room 703A, Roland Levinsky Building, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA
- +44 1752 585236
- victoria.squire@plymouth.ac.uk
Profiles
Mrs Victoria Squire
Associate Head of School - Education and Student Experience
School of Art, Design and Architecture (Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business)
Biography
Biography
Victoria is the Associate Head for Education and Student Experience within the School of Art, Design & Architecture and lecturer on the BA (Hons) Graphic Design with Typography programme. Her research explores the interface between graphic design and health. She is a co-chief editor of the international Design Behaviors research journal, United Designs Alliance, South Korea.
Victoria is a University of Plymouth Partnership Manager for UK partnerships.
Mental health first aider.
Message: Graphic Communication Design Research
Victoria is co-founder and co-managing editor of the Message: Graphic Communication Design Research journal, published by the University of Plymouth Press.
Message is an international peer-reviewed academic journal that consists of blind reviewed academic papers and occasional commissioned essays. It is dedicated to the development and discussion of contemporary and historical visual communication research, with a particular emphasis on Graphic Communication Design practice, outputs, artefacts and contexts.
Victoria is also the initiator of the Message Open Access repository at the University of Plymouth.
Coordinator Message research cluster
Victoria coordinates the Message Research Cluster which is dedicated to the development and discussion of contemporary visual communication messages through research, particularly, but not exclusively, within graphic design, typography, illustration, fine art and publishing. Victoria also contributes to the Design Research area, co-organising combined events for Message, Design Knowledge and iDAT research clusters, as well as organising research events for Message.
Lecturer BA (Hons) Graphic Design with Typography
Victoria has been a lecturer at the University of Plymouth since 1997.Qualifications
PGCE (Oxford Brooks University)
MA Communication Design (Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design)
BA Hons Graphic Design
Victoria has had an extensive career within Graphic Design Higher Education. Her teaching experience, beginning her career in Further Education, was at South East Essex College of Arts and Technology, moving into Higher Education at North Oxfordshire College and School of Art before joining the University of Plymouth. Whilst in Oxfordshire Victoria completed a PGCE at Oxford Brookes University.
Victoria has been at guest lecturer at UWE Bristol, and Associate Lecturer at Parnham College and Bridgwater College. She has been an external examiner for BA Hons Creative Industries, Southampton Institute.
Victoria has taught at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, including BA Hons Graphic Communication with Typography (year coordinator of all three years), BA Hons Illustration, BA Hons Photography, MA Publishing. Victoria was course leader for BA Hons Graphic Communication with Typography for five years (2002-2007) and re-approved the award.
In 2004-2006, Victoria undertook the role of Subject Forum Chair having responsibility of overseeing the Faculty of Arts Partnerships. She was responsible for the development of the Arts community in the South West of England and Jersey, pursuing initiatives and developing innovations across the forum, building a community of practice. This community had a national reputation due to its size, activities and community ethos and was used as a national exemplar.
Professional membership
Graphic Design Educators Network
Roles on external bodies
Director - United Designs Alliance, South Korea
Key publications
spaces that speak letterpress animation. Open access
Teaching
Teaching
Teaching interests
Victoria's teaching interests include:
Typography - Getting it right with Type published by Lawrence King Publishers UK/USA 2006
Editorial design / Book works
Graphic Design process
The exploration of the cross-overs between disciplines and approaches
Teaching and Learning:
Research into depth of learning and mastery of Graphic Design
Research into studio based learning environments
Whilst being Subject Forum Chair Victoria was a member of the UPC HELP CETL management committee which viewed and approved applications for CETL Fellows and CPD awards. The Art & Design South West Subject Forum had five major learning and teaching research projects in progress within the HELP CETL. These projects were identified as being of significant importance within the forum and key academics with interests in these areas took this research forward into smaller communities of practice.
Staff serving as external examiners
External examiner: BA Hons Creative Industries, Southampton Institute (2005-2008)
Research
Research
Research interests
Victoria's research interests are in visual communication.
She is interested in proposing and communicating future alternatives of visual communication design, moving away from its commercial role, in particular into the relationship between design, health and social change.
Victoria's visual practice focuses on revealing the unseen; cognitive visualisation arising from creative activity, exploring and analysing what and how the visual exposes, revealing more than just the words / images.
Victoria's research is both practice and theoretically based. She seeks to contextualize herself and others, through co-design, physically and spiritually in relation to the environment and beyond. Through reflective and contemplative working methodologies she seeks to explore the cross-overs between disciplines and approaches, creating innovative working methods and outputs including: co-design, typographic, book-works, photographic, installation, collection, and animation.
Other research
PEER REVIEWER November 2014: 11th International European Academy of Design Conference (April 2015, Paris) 'The Value of Design Research'.Track 18: Design and public policy - social design - The value of design research for societal change and behavioural change.
CONFERENCE ABSTRACT May 2014: 1st International Symposium: Speed, Silence and Solitude, INAA Toronto, Canada.
Abstract accepted entitled 'Letterpress and the soul': space, solitude, time, silence and a narrative.
Creative practice & artistic projects
Squire, V., Squire, R., & Homer, S. R. (2020). Love Letter. Knowledge Sharing and Exchange in a Pandemic. The Culture Capital Exchange.
spaces that speak
spaces that speak letterpress animation used the process and output of letterpress to reveal the unseen, gaining insights into the significance of letterpress existentially. The research extends understanding of the architecture of a page, where elements used in composition to communicate the message are non-printable items (compositional space), traditionally used to support words. Here they are used as a metaphor, as a spiritual space surrounding and supporting humankind.
The research has been screened in the UK and internationally (New York, Salt Lake City, Portland – USA and Bornholm - Denmark, (Bornshorts Film Festival, where it was nominated for best animation award).
Publications
Publications
Key publications
spaces that speak letterpress animation. Open access
Key publications are highlighted
Journals
Articles
(2022) 'Messages in a time of crisis Graphic communication design A change of tack?' YMT 4 Publisher Site Open access
(2020) 'Message Journal, Edition 4: DESIGN POLITICS What are the politics of your design and what is the design of your politics?' Message Open access
(2020) 'Under pressure: Psychological perspectives on letterpress, craft and well-being' Craft Research 11, (1) 97-114 , DOI Open access
(2011) 'Journey to stillness' Varoom
(2001) 'The book as a vehicle for creativity; cross pollination of graphic design' Association of Illustrators
'Message Journal, Issue 5: COVID-19 SPECIAL ISSUE Capturing visual insights, thoughts and reflections on 2020/21 and beyond..' Message Open access
Reviews
(2005) 'Review of book 'How to be a graphic designer without losing your soul' by Adrian Shaughnessy' Association of Illustrators
(2001) 'Review of book 'Becoming Designers: education & influence'' Association of Illustrators
Books
(2007) Getting it Right with Type. UK/USA Laurence King Publishers
Conference Papers
8th International Conference of Typography and Visual Communication
(2012) 'Repetitive Swipe Injury - Challenging Design Conventions Within Tablet Publishing' in Ridout; Squire 2nd Message Symposium: Against Orthodoxy - Why Publish? Sherwell Centre, Plymouth University 4-/-0/20124-/-0/2012Publisher Site Open access
Reports
(2003) Review of book 'Type and Typography' by Phil Baines and Andrew Haslam. Laurence King Publishers Ltd. London
Review of book 'Designing Type, by Karen Cheng. Laurence King Publishers Ltd. London June 2005
Designs
Hollerday.
Inhale and Hold.
Love Letter: Poster.
spaces that speak letterpress animation. Open access
Exhibitions
Text + image = messagen. Crosspoint, Plymouth University 01/03/20111
Motherhood and the mundane. Sherwell Centre, Plymouth University 01/04/20091
Hollerday. Hollerday Hill, Lynton, Devon, UK 01/06/20084
Journey. Swansea UK 01/01/20071
The voice of McCleash. Westcliffe-on-Sea, Essex 01/01/1999one
Void. Newport, Wales, UK 1
Presentations and posters
'International Conference on Typography & Visual Communication'
'Visual communication in a time of crisis: Insights into the relationship between visual communication and health' Open access
Other Publications
Exhibition catalogue for 'Allegory', 'Interstice', 'Journey to stillness', 'Motherhood and the mundane', 'Reverie', 'Silence', 'Void'. University of Wales, UK University of Wales, UK Newport, Wales, UK
Website submission: 'Allegory', 'Interstice', 'Journey to stillness', 'Motherhood and the mundane', 'Reverie', 'Silence', 'Void'. University of Wales
Message issue 1,
co editor.
Message issue 2, co editor.
Message issue 3, co editor.
Personal
Personal
Other academic activities
Attendance at Leapfrog Summer School: Exploring Community Engagement for Research: Power, Impact, & Collaboration.
Lancaster University, July 2017
University of Plymouth Co-organised Design research workshops (Message, iDAT, Design Knowledge):
Expanding research networks Research seminar: Dóra Ísleifsdóttir & Åse Huus & research poster event, January 2020
Design Research: The impact of design; provoking new thinking and practice around strategic design challenges (speakers: Dr Rachel Cooper OBE & Dr Iain Stewart MBE), June 2018
Design Research poster event; Message, i-Dat, Design knowledge research clusters, January 2018
Message symposia:
‘Framing Arts research’, September 2014
Designing critical messages
Message research symposium, Plymouth University, June 2013
Against Orthodoxy: Why Publish?
Message research symposium, Plymouth University, April 2012
Text + image = messagen
Message research symposium, Plymouth University, April 2011
Art & Design South West Education Partnership
Guest speaker Alan Baines, Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design. Discussing VLE's in Art & Design. Art & Design South West Education Partnership, October 2005, Plymouth
'Assessment/embedding PDP' Art & Design South West Education Partnership, June 2005 Dartington
‘Developing the forum’ Art & Design South West Education Partnership, June 2004 St. Olaves, Exeter.
Approval/validation events:
BSc (Hons) Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Plymouth (Panel member) 2019
FdA Communication & Media Arts, North Devon College, external academic (Subject Forum Chair Art & Design), May 2006
FdA Digital Visualisation, Truro College, external academic (Subject Forum Chair Art & Design), April 2006
FdA Music Performance, North Devon College, external academic (Subject Forum Chair Art & Design), April 2006
FdA Performance Production, Exeter College, external academic (Subject Forum Chair Art & Design), stage one only 2006
FdA Video Production, Exeter College, external academic (Subject Forum Chair Art & Design), stage one only 2006
FdA Action Photography, Truro College, external academic (Subject Forum Chair Art & Design), stage one only 2006
FdA Media Advertising, Truro College, external academic (Subject Forum Chair Art & Design), May 2006
FdA Graphic Design & Multimedia, City of Bristol College, external academic (Subject Forum Chair Art & Design), May 2006
FdA Graphic Design & Multimedia, Weymouth College, external academic (Subject Forum Chair Art & Design), May 2006
FdA Spatial Design, Plymouth College of Art & Design, external academic (Subject Forum Chair Art & Design), July 2004
FdACAD Visualisation/FdSc CAD Technologies, City of Bristol College,external academic (Subject Forum Chair Art & Design) May 2004
FdA Silversmithing & Jewellery, Truro College, external academic (Subject Forum Chair Art & Design), April 2004
FdA Fashion, Plymouth College of Art & Design, external academic (Subject Forum Chair Art & Design), April 2004
FdAIllustration, FdA Ceramics, FdA Fine Art, North Devon College, externalacademic (Subject Forum Chair Art & Design), March 2004
BA Hons Creative Industries validation, Southampton Institute, external academic, January 2004
BA Hons Digital Art & Design validation, University of Plymouth, 2002
Additional information
Vice Chair/Foundation Governor for West Exmoor Federation
(Lynton C of E School, Parracombe C of E school, Kentisbury School)
Lead Governor and chair - Ethos and Community Cohesion committee
Vice Chair - Federation Improvement Committee
Foundation Governor The Ilfracombe Academy