Mark Wood
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I work across a broad range of graphic design, touching on fine art, and photography. Sharing such interdisciplinary ideas are the foundations of my teaching; to help aspiring graphic designers develop the skills and intellectual rigour that operating at the highest levels of creativity demand.
Communicating ideas in words and pictures is a neat way to describe my practice; and is also the essence of graphic design, which demands, drawing, being fluent in typography, and knowing the computer, as essential skills that sit alongside entrepreneurship, personnel management, and theoretical research. There is a joy in sharing my insights, gleaned from decades of professional practice, through teaching.
In 2018 I returned to academic life in my new role as Course Leader and Senior Professional Tutor in Graphic Design, at Liverpool Hope University.
Teaching has always been the central part of my practice. I have been a full-time lecturer in further and higher education. Throughout my career I have worked on diverse range of design and art projects, from communication design and photography, to community and public art; writing marketing scripts, designing page layouts, creating logos, making interactive books, websites, videos, and posters.
Research interests include exploring multi-touch book authoring; using the unique characteristics of tablet devices such as iPads to host interactive learning experiences. Though at heart I am a printmaker and value the tactile qualities of print on paper.
I have decades of experience delivering commercial training in application software such as Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Lightroom, and Illustrator; the applications used in graphic design and photography. In addition I teach presentation skills for marketing companies. As a holder of several Apple Training Certifications, I have been involved with some of the world’s biggest companies, including Apple. In recent years I have been recruited as a product ambassador for BenQ, X-Rite, and DxO. In 2014 Apple invited me to write the course-ware for their productivity applications, Pages, Numbers, and Keynote. I am a colour management expert with a deep understanding of technology. Knowing the computer, as I do, frees me to create and draw fluidly with leading edge software applications.
Synopsis
Teaching has always been the central part of my practice. I have been a full-time lecturer in further and higher education. Throughout my career I have worked on diverse range of design and art projects, from communication design and photography, to community and public art. In recent years I have been recruited as a product ambassador for BenQ, X-Rite, and DxO. I develop and deliver training with software applications used in graphic design and photography, as well as teaching presentation skills for marketing companies. In 2014 Apple invited me to write the courseware for their productivity applications, Pages, Numbers, and Keynote.
Qualifications
University of Wolverhampton Master of Arts, Art & Design Network, 1996-98
Leeds Polytechnic BA Hons Graphic Design (Printmaking), 1989-92
North Staffordshire Polytechnic – Foundation Certificate in Art & Design, 1987-88
Experience
Graphic Design:
Working across graphic design, photography, and publication design, I communicate ideas in words and pictures: writing marketing scripts, designing page layouts, creating logos, making interactive books, websites, videos, and posters for a variety of clients – 1992 to present.
Lecturer:
Loughborough University: Appointed to teach BA Hons Graphic Communication. Core teaching responsibilities were web design and print reproduction. I was also the first year tutor, 1998-2003.
Stoke-on-Trent College: Writing and delivering units for HND, HNC, and ND Graphic Design. Responsible for commercial training in Photoshop, Illustrator, and QuarkXpress, 1995-1998.
Buxton & Leek College: Wrote and taught desktop publishing courses, 1993-1995.
Educator:
Engaging with professional and prosumer markets via technology companies to deliver training. Running development sessions for teachers, technical staff, and lecturers in creative applications.
IMED - Istituto Mediterrano Del Design, Calabria, Italy. Sessional teaching on their European Joint Masters Course in City Regeneration, 2011-13.
Birmingham City University, New Technology Institute. Sessional teaching on Apple and Adobe Authorised courses, and proctoring the respective exams, 2008-2012.
Staffordshire University. Commercial training in Colour Management, and sessional teaching on BA Hons Photography, 2008-2010. Other clients include, Acumé Forensics, Apple, Bartle Boggle Heggarty, BenQ, DxO, Sigma Imaging, Nik Software, Oxford University, Universal Music, X-Rite, professional photographers, schools, colleges, universities and independent training centres. I was responsible for training-the-trainers in Aperture for Apple EMEIA until July 2014 when Apple terminated Aperture development.
Presenting webinars for BenQ, DxO, Nik Software, and X-Rite Photo.
Making Video-on-Demand Tutorials for Elephorm on Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.
Commissioned author of the following books:
Wood, M, (2015) Pages, Numbers, and Keynote, Peachpit Press, ISBN:978-01-339-8706-5
Wood, M, (2012) iWork – Numbers, BookBoon, ISBN: 978-87-403-0073-4
Wood, M, (2012) iWork – Pages, BookBoon, ISBN: 978-87-403-0072-7
Wood, M, (2012) iWork – Keynote, BookBoon, ISBN: 978-87-403-0071-0
Technical writer, and product reviewer:
Working with manufacturers, and resellers to write reviews, case-studies, and training material.
British Journal Of Photography: including a four part series on Colour Management.
Macworld: Masterclasses in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign.
MacUser: Masterclasses in Aperture and Adobe Camera RAW.
Authored several courseware handbooks including Digital Imaging For Police Work.
Contributing writer for, Manual of Forensic Science: An International Survey, CRC Press, 2017, ISBN 9781498766302
Awards
Rhubarb Bursary – to receive mentoring and reviews from internationally renowned art critics.
Bursary from Staffordshire University to travel to New York to investigate international trade.
Big Art Challenge – National Semi–Finalist. Lowry, Salford and Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead televised on Channel 5 (UK)
Additional skills
Apple Certified Trainer – Aperture
Apple Certified Trainer – iLife
Apple Certified Trainer – iWork
Apple Certified Support Professional – OSX Essentials
Adobe Photoshop Tutor – including the BIPP Digital Imaging Academy Classes
Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Lightroom & Acrobat – bespoke training provider.
Colour Management Trainer – X-Rite Coloratti Group Colour Experts.
BenQ UK Product Ambassador for Colour Critical Monitors Exhibitions:
The Fitzrovia Photography Prize: Diemar/Noble Gallery, London.
On Four Walls: Solo Show, Keele University.
Constructed Spaces: Solo Show and tour, sponsored by MADE and Arts Council England.
Looking for Mandy’s Place: Group Touring Show. A show based on the epic poem Looking for Mandy’s Place of Brian Lewis. ISBN 1-900856-40-9.
The British Landscape: Group Show – The Mall Galleries, London.
Commissions
You Are Here: Artist in Residence Potteries Museum & Art Gallery.
Britannia Building Society 150th Anniversary: Commissioned to work with staff to create a photomontage that reflected thoughts and feelings about the Society; past, present and future.
Art in Rural Consultation: Coordinating Artist: Initiated by the Community Council of Shropshire, as part of a national pilot scheme to use art in consultation. Utilised video, animation and digital artworks. Screened by BBC TV.
Architecture Week 2005: Project coordination and lead artist for Urban Vision and RIBA.
Haregate Junior Youth Club: Working with young people to create designs for a bus livery. Sponsored by FirstGroup Travel.
Hartshill Park: Creative consultation, to design art interpretation for a Local Nature Reserve.
Bradeley Together: Working with people of Bradeley to create an art event, which gave them opportunity to discuss their hopes for the future.
Bridgnorth District Council: Produced concepts for a permanent artwork at the gateway between the historic old town and a major new development.
Voluntary Work
Operation Spitfire: Maintaining the group’s website and social media presence — 2013 to present.
Kansen Ryu Kempo Ju-Jitsu: Martial arts instructor – 2013 to present.
Leek Arts Festival: Developing visual arts presence within the Festival – 2004–2009.