Amy Ward

Amy started her teaching career in a part time role at The University of Northampton following an MA in which she focussed on Design and Higher Education. She joined Norwich as a full-time member of the Graphics team in January 2016. Her main responsibilities were coordinating the Year Zero graphics pathway and acting as a core member of the Year One Graphics team. Amy heads up BA Graphic Communication now.

Amy has over a decade of industry experience working as a designer for agencies in both full time and freelance roles. Her experience includes working in branding, corporate reporting, digital media, editorial, infographics and web design.

Practice

I have always been passionate about teaching and seeing that ‘penny drop moment’ in a student when they realise they have reached a great design solution. As a creative, I love to find inspiration from the mundane; I am always on the hunt for unnoticed visual treasures in shops and streets wherever I go.

I have a strong interest in typography and my current research practice at the John Jarrold Print Museum, allows me to indulge this passion and expand my knowledge through the exploration of letterpress techniques. I have been learning the art of setting type from the experts in traditional print composition, who are passing on their skills to me. Letterpress was once at the heart of the Graphic Design industry and is still a relevant and influential medium today. These analogue processes are fundamental to how the word of digital design has evolved.

I continue to develop my design practice, through both self-initiated projects and client briefs, exploring digital illustration, print, web and moving image.

Research Outputs

• April 2017: Storehouse Magazine: Typographic response to Trump
• March 2017: Conceptualisation and curation of of Year Zero Graphics
• Typographic Screen Print exhibition ‘A-Zero’. Nunnsyard Gallery, Norwich.

Other Activities

• Fellow Higher Education Academy
• Member of D&AD
• Member of Jarrolds Print Museum
• Member of Print to the People