SOMERSET COLLEGE RESEARCH AND SCHOLARLY SYMPOSIUM JULY 2015

 I recently took part in Somerset College's Research and Scholarship Symposium. This event was an opportunity for academic and support staff to share scholarly activity from the previous academic year. My presentation was an overview of my PhD research so far, with emphasis on Elizabeth David and Stork Wives Club publications. With fifteen minutes to present my work, I had to outline as much as possible in a clear and concise manner whilst engaging the audience. The Symposium also include presentations from academics outside of the college alongside service providers affiliated to the college. The event was an ideal platform for me to share my experience as a PhD student alongside the role of a lecturer, and above all has given me further confidence to present at conferences.

SOMERSET COLLEGE FE SHOWS JUNE 2015

I have been busy over the last year teaching on a variety of courses at Somerset College in Taunton.  I have taught on the BA (Hons) Graphic Design degree course alongside the Access to Higher Education course in Art and Design. Having been the  lead lecturer role on the BTEC Extended Diploma in Graphics, Media and Photography course I have seen my students work in a wide variety of mediums, including film, illustration, photography, typography and graphic design.  The FE Private View took place on the 18th June, where family and friends  were invited to see the culmination of two years work in a Final major Project. Students were given the opportunity to choose their own briefs - as diverse as a corporate identity for a Skateboard brand, a book for young children explaining Autism a film exploring the impact of domestic abuse and a dream installation.. The students have progressed to excellent universities including Falmouth, Plymouth, UWE, Arts Institute in Bournemouth and University of South Wales in a wide variety of disciplines. The images are just a small selection from both the BTEC students and Access to Art and Design students.

Snowcat Illustrated book

Diana the Huntress

Illustrations inspired by friends

Light installation using re-formed plastic.

Cross constructed using discard clay pipes found by the River Thames.

Scene from Exmoor Somerset

Sculpture inspired by Michaelangelo

Branding for Skateboard

POSTER PRESENTATION AT SOCIAL HISTORY SOCIETY CONFERENCE

I recently took part in the Social History Society Conference at Portsmouth University. My poster presentation title: 'Selling Stork:  Text and Illustration and the discourse of consumerism and product culture in the cookbooks of the Stork Cookery Service in the post-rationing era' was an overview of my current research into The Stork Cookery Service. The poster had two main focuses. Firstly it investigated the titles that were introduced to consumers under the banner of the 'Stork Wives Club' which was established following the re-introduction of margarine in 1954. It also examined the diversity of these titles in an increasingly consumerist society and the illustrations that accompanied them. With some housewives learning to cook during rationing restrictions, they required re-education in the use of ingredients such as sugar and fat. The series consisted of over 15 booklets with titles including 'Stork's Tour of Britain's Cooking,  'Feeding the Family' and 'Around the Shows with Stork'. 
Secondly, the poster also included analysis of the dialogue between employee, employer and consumer in publications, which was instrumental in understanding the development of the brand. 

The poster was well received, and the experience gave me the opportunity to meet other Post Graduate students within a similar field.