matthew harper - course leader graphic design

"Be interested in everything. I enjoy the journey of discovery that students take along their development - their creativity being honed through curiosity, innovation and application of craft."

current role

I currently teach on the Level 3 Extended Diploma and Foundation Degree in Graphic Design.

before teaching...

Prior to teaching I have worked as a graphic designer in Manchester agencies as well as 10 years freelance graphic design specialising in branding, typography, magazine and brochure design.

career highlights and achievements...

The best feeling for any designer is seeing a product or design on a shelf when you are just out and about doing your daily business. To this day I still get a buzz from seeing a van whose livery I have designed pass me on my commute, or seeing a piece of packaging on the supermarket shelf that I have designed whilst out doing the weekly shop.

inspiration...

Music design ultimately inspired me to get in to the industry. That led to an unhealthy obsession with collecting records, and as my knowledge of cover design and taste in music grew so did my record collection, often just buying records for their sleeve.

I love the creativity of design and getting lost in an engaging project. Graphic designers work within the commercial world meaning that jobs are varied – graphic design is all around us, and the world is an increasingly visual place. It is the role of the graphic designer to shape that visual world project by project. The work a graphic designer does often is overlooked by vast majority of the public, from branding and signage to products but in most cases the subliminal seed that is planted in the viewers mind is all part of it’s success

Academic background...

I have a BA (Hons) Degree in Graphic Design, PGCE (Art and Design) and a M.Ed Masters in Education.