Prof Gareth Williams

Biography

I am the Deputy Dean for Quality, Enhancement and Development in the Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries with particular responsibility for maintaining the quality and currency of our portfolio of taught courses, developing new curricula and working with higher education partner institutions in the UK and internationally. In addition I am Professor of Design in the School of Design.

My expertise in contemporary design practices was acquired as a curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum before I joined the Royal College of Art as a Senior Lecturer in Design Products and Reader in Design Curator.  I joined Middlesex University as Professor of Design and Head of the Design Department in 2016.

Teaching

I teach on MA Interior Architecture and Design, offering tutorial support to students on the modules IAD4010 ‘Explore: Scale and Place’, IAD4011 ‘Encounter: Contexts and Debates’, IAD4020 ‘Develop: Personal Practice’ and IAD4030 ‘Realise: Independent Research and Design’. I am also currently Director of Studies for one research student, Mamiko Markham for her thesis ‘Reinventing Commerce, Redefining Role: Katagami Transcultural Significance in Japonisme via the Silver Studio Collection’.

Previous research student supervision includes Gwen Fereday, ‘Synaesthetic colour responses to text: an investigation through fine art textiles’ (2019, Director of Studies); David Fern, ‘The Interior, the Experiencer, Kokoro: towards the essence of place’, (2019, supervisor); and Lara Furniss, ‘Universal Eyes: Defying Classification: a study exploring the processes of 21st Century design studios’ (Birmingham City University, 2019, second supervisor).