BA (Hons) Fashion Media & Marketing (Jan 2025 Start)

Dedicated to teaching both theory and practice since 1999, Mel began teaching at Arts University Plymouth in 2004. She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, AUP Teaching Fellow and RSA Fellow. Mel’s skills and experience are consolidated in her role as Assistant Dean and Principal Lecturer, having long since decided that working alongside the next generation of designers and creatives was exactly where she wanted to be. Previously course leader for BA (Hons) Illustration, Mel built a team of dedicated staff to help shape the identity and curriculum of the course, and the Illustration provision at Arts University Plymouth grew from strength to strength Current pedagogic research is focused on play and the role of curiosity in creative learning. Mel has presented papers at conferences across the UK and Europe: Illustr4tio International Conference (‘Illustration as Reparation’ 2019), GLAD Conference (‘Trading Places: Developing a Model for Interdisciplinary Practice’ 2017), HEA Annual Arts and Humanities Conference (‘The Great Editorial Race: the serious business of play’ 2016), ELIA Teachers Conference (‘The Serious Business of Play’ 2015). She is co-author of journal paper ‘Drawing Thinking: Illustration as Pedagogy' with AUP Senior lecturer Jason Hirons. With a BA (Hons) in Graphic Design and MA in Visual Culture from Bath Spa University, in her own practice Mel is obsessed with discarded books and abandoned photographs and seemingly random pieces of ephemera. Through drawing and collage Mel plays with juxtaposition to transform the use, meaning and interpretation of the images she finds and a recurring theme is the plight of lost, broken and damaged things. Website

Jason is an artist, writer and educator with an interest in the detritus, flotsam and jetsam of the everyday. Other areas of interest include landscape, walking, critical writing, comics, Actor Network Theory, poetry and performative practices. Since 2001 he has been walking, collecting and archiving the city of Plymouth; this work has been realised in a number of ways, including published texts, performances (locally, nationally and internationally), installations, and public talks. Jason studied Performance Writing at Dartington College of Arts followed by a Masters by Research in Landscape at the University of Plymouth, and he is currently a doctoral candidate at the Institute of Education, where his research involves speculations on the future of the art school and communities of practice. As one half of Driftingspace and a founding member of the art and architecture group Interchange, Jason explores the possibilities of place, space and critical education as a conduit for transformational learning. He also runs theopenartschool, which includes the ongoing microlecture series #5minutecontext, hosted on his Instagram account @JasonHirons. For years Jason led and coordinated the Contextual Studies modules at Arts University Plymouth, and he currently teaches on the BA (Hons) Illustration, Masters in Art, Masters in Photography, and MFA programmes, and is the Course Leader for Distance Learning at Arts University Plymouth.

An experienced stylist and visual merchandiser, Alanna has created window installations and overseen creative styling for some of the highstreet's best-known brands. Working at Oxford Street’s flagship Miss Selfridge and Topshop Knightsbridge in London, her creative installations have been seen by an average of 4.3 million people a week. Alanna has significant experience of retail environments and their working and has led a creative team responsible for opening stores around the UK, including high-profile store refurbishments and new store openings. Also responsible for styling for press events, Alanna studied Cultural Studies and Media Communications at Bath Spa university, where she specialized in identity in music and fashion cultures, and is passionate about the discussion of these areas within Fashion Media and Marketing.

Amy began her career in 2016 in the sports industry as a graphic designer for the Exeter Chiefs rugby club and Sandy Park Stadium. While at the Chiefs, she led rebranding efforts for parts of Sandy Park stadium and developed a new visual brand for the 2019/20 season. Her work has been showcased to audiences of over 250,000 people through features on BT Sport, and she has also created artwork for England Rugby and the city of Exeter. Additionally, she gained valuable experience collaborating with other well-known sporting brands such as RedBull. Following her successful industry work, Amy pursued a Master of Arts degree in Visual Communication at Arts University Plymouth, graduating with Distinction in November 2021. She then joined Arts University Plymouth in February 2022 as a lecturer for the BA (Hons) Graphic Design course, Distance Learning programs, and as the specialist tutor for MA Visual Communication. Amy has also launched her own project, The Play Method, and is currently working towards a PhD focused on play theory and creative practice.

Jenny Evans is an award-winning entrepreneur and artist with a global clientele for her nature-inspired artwork. She earned a First Class Honours degree in Textiles from Cardiff Metropolitan University, where she also won Santander's University Entrepreneur's national competition in 2017, securing £25k in prize money. Shortly after, Jenny raised a seed round of £350k to launch her investor-backed business, specialising in luxury homeware and fashion accessories made in the UK. While managing a team across two offices, Jenny also served as the UK Policy Chair for Young Entrepreneurs at the FSB, advocating for legislative changes to support young business leaders. She has mentored hundreds of Plymouth-based startups through her work at Outset and serves as a Trustee for Plymouth Culture, influencing the city's creative and cultural future. Now a Lecturer on BA (Hons) Fashion Media & Marketing and BA (Hons) Textile Design at Arts University Plymouth, Jenny is committed to spotlighting the next wave of creative talent.