CV – Abridged

Curriculum Vitae – August 2018

THOMAS, Huw B

Education

M.A., MA Industrial Design (Eng.) – Pass with Distinction and Commendation, June 1988

  • Manchester Polytechnic (now Manchester Metropolitan University), United Kingdom
  • Dissertation/Thesis: “Design consultancy in the UK”
  • Doctoral/Master’s Project: “Commercial Project – HEME International
  • Commercial Project – A&R Cambridge Limited
  • Commercial Project – Robert McArd (Celmac)
  • Academic Project – Greater Manchester Police
  • Committee Members: External Examiner – Mr Perry KING, King + Miranda Design, Milan, Italy
  • One project went to production for HEME International. 5 other projects with clients.

 

B.A. (Hons), Industrial Design (Eng), June 1986

  • South Glamorgan Institute of Higher Education (SGIHE), Cardiff, United Kingdom
  • Dissertation/Thesis: “The Car and Society”
  • Calculator project featured in ‘Design’ Magazine, 1986 and Design Council ‘touring’ exhibition of ‘Young Designers’, 1986.
  • Same work featured in DOMUS and ABITARE magazines.

Licensures, Certifications, and Professional Training

  • SolidWorks (online via Digital Tutors) – July, 2014
  • Keyshot (online via Digital Tutors) – November, 2014
  • Keyshot (online via webinar) – September 9th, 2014
  • MODO (online, via The Foundry)
  • MakerBot (online) – September 16th, 2014
  • Spheron FrameWorks / SceneCase (Forensics software), Staffordshire University, January 6, 2009 – January 7, 2009, Spheron VR AG, Germany – 2 days.
  • Spheron System and ARTVPS systems – Professional HDR and Backplate Production for use in automotive rendering. Staffordshire University / HEIF 3 Research Funded, August 2008
  • ARTVPS, Cambridge – 2 days.
  • Bespoke course, training Huw Thomas in the workflow / process of attaining matching HDR image and digital backplates, which can be used to achieve commercial quality digital renderings, especially suited to car rendering. Huw Thomas was only person on this course, and was tutored by a leading industry expert.
  • Autodesk’s Maya – Bespoke course. Staffordshire University, UK, July 7, 2008 – July 10, 2008
  • BlueGFX, Guildford
  • Autodesk’s Combustion (2D / 3D compositing software), Staffordshire University, UK, 2007
  • Clear Thinking, (In house) Introductory Training, 2 days.
  • Autodesk’s Maya, 2006
  • Design Academy, Manchester – 2 days.
  • Autodesk’s Maya, 2006, Staffordshire University, In-house – 2 days.
  • Filemaker Pro (relational database), 2002
  • Manchester – 1 day.

Employment History : Academic

University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States

  • Associate Professor, Industrial Design
  • August 2013 – May 2017

Supporting undergraduate Industrial Design program. Activities included final year thesis supervision, recruitment, research and commercial liasion.

MV Transportation Scholarship (2015) – one of my Senior ID, Amber Hanschu, students became the first recipient of this award.

NFGRF research activities were both funded and initiated April 2015, with receipt of a full ($8000) grant.

IDSA St Louis Chapter competition – students under my supervision won this or placed in competition across 3 straight years

Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom

  • Award Leader, BA (Hons) VFX : Visual Effects + Concept Design
  • September 2007 – July 2013

Managing 1 fulltime faculty member and upto 4 part time faculty.

Management of award budget (approx. $20,000 for 2012-2013), recruitment, academic procedures and standards, liaison with External Examiner.

Originated original BA (Hons) award, manager responsible for all aspects of its delivery. 50-60 full-time students, 3 year full-time program.

Role / Responsibilities

  • Origination of the award (nothing like it in UK in 2007)
  • Validation of the award – e.g. approval to run as a degree
  • Documentation – e.g. student handbooks, module (class) packs etc.
  • Timetabling – all staff, all levels
  • Resources – management, decision making
  • Design briefs – planned in advance of semester start
  • Staffing / Line Management (from 2010, 3-5 part time staff)
  • Responsible for 14 classes up until 2010
  • Sourcing External Examiners (2 to date)
  • Co-ordination with External Examiner – dates of visit, sampling of work, annual report
  • Systems maintenance / commissioning of new equipment (beyond technician expertise)
  • Exam Boards – determining student degree classification
  • Assessment Boards – reviewing class grade profiles (cohort), grade threshold standards
  • Recruitment
  • Interviewing of applicants – full portfolio interview, in person
  • Awards Promotions at UK events
  • Awards Promotions at European events
  • Student trips to FMX (Europe’s largest film and games conference), Germany in 2010, 2011 and 2012
  • Student Induction to Lake District in 2009 and 2010
  • Ad Hoc ‘Faculty’ meetings
  • Software delivery – namely Maya and Photoshop
  • Video tutorials – production and editing of. BEA Award of Excellence / Research Informed Teaching research funded initiative.

Curriculum Responsibility

  • Approximately 50% of delivery
  • 100% responsibility for ‘class’ assignments / ‘levelness’ (e.g. progression development across three years)

Interaction with External Examiner, Chief External Examiners, Departmental Assessment Boards and Departmental Award Boards.

Collation of module (class) evaluation paperwork – a quality control procedure capturing STUDENT experience of class content, faculty input, resources available, teaching and learning strategies employed.

Completion of module (class) monitoring paperwork – a quality control procedure reflecting upon FACULTY experience of class delivery. Commenting upon and addressing any significant STUDENT comments (as captured above) in relation to all delivered classes, per semester.

Integration of external examiner commentary on both student performance and faculty derived briefs, teaching strategies and action plans for the future.

Ensuring all first, second and final year work is graded on time, student feedback produced, and class monitoring commentary from part time staff is integrated.

Ensure all second and final year is double marked (e.g. by two staff / faculty). This is because these grades count towards degree classification and avoids favoritism / discrimination

Ensure all second and final year work is sampled by independent external examiner. This is because these grades count towards degree classification and avoids favoritism / discrimination and ensures consistency / maintenance of grading standards.

Ensure all second and final year sampled work is approved and signed off by the independent external examiner.

The independent external examiner also ensures grading parity both internally (within institution) and externally (University to University).

Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom

  • Award Leader BA (Hons) Product Design Technology
  • April 1996 – September 2007

Management of BA (Hons) PDT award – 15-20 students, 3 year full-time program. Award run in tandem with its sister BSc (Hons) award.

Management of budget, recruitment, academic procedures and standards, liaison with External Examiner.

Role / Responsibilities

  • Validation of the award
  • Documentation – e.g. student handbooks, module packs etc.
  • Timetabling
  • Resources, including database driven website (pre-Blackboard)
  • Design briefs
  • Staffing co-ordination
  • Responsible for 80% classes (circa 10-12) up until 2006/2007
  • Sourcing External Examiners (2 to date)
  • Co-ordination with External Examiner
  • Exam Boards
  • Assessment Boards
  • Recruitment – both BA and BSc students
  • Interviewing of applicants – all BA students
  • Awards Promotions at UK events
  • Awards Promotions at European events
  • Co-ordination with external companies / clients
  • Co-ordination and setting up of student ‘study’ trips

Curriculum Responsibility

  • Responsible for award development, in conjunction with engineering campus staff (based 20 miles away)
  • Cross campus delivery (e.g. I taught on both campuses)
  • Class delivery at all three levels (3 year full-time degree program) – BA and BSc (Hons) students
  • Design for Manufacturing (materials and processes)
  • Ergonomics – usually full sized rigs of ‘town cars’ / electric vehicles
  • Concept Design / Design Methodology
  • Thesis (equivalent) supervision – usually originating initial ideas for students, some of which have gone onto commercial development / businesses

Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom

  • Senior Lecturer, BA (Hons) Product Design
  • April 1996 – September 2007

Senior Lecturer for BA (Hons) award – 45-60 students, 3 year full-time program.

Role / Responsibilities

  • Documentation – module packs etc.
  • Timetabling
  • Resources
  • Design briefs
  • Responsible for 6 classes up until 2006 (approx.)
  • Sourcing External Examiner
  • Co-ordination with External Examiner
  • Exam Boards
  • Assessment Boards
  • Recruitment support
  • Interviewing of applicants
  • Awards Promotions at UK events
  • Awards Promotions at European events
  • Student trips to TVR Sport cars Limited, Blackpool.
  • Student trip to Toyota factory, Derby.
  • Student trips to Rolls Royce / Bentley, Crewe
  • Student trips to JCB, Rocester
  • Student trips to Design Museum, London
  • Student trips to Glasgow / Glasgow School of Art
  • Student trips to Pulse Fitness, Congleton
  • Student trip to RGE Engineering Limited, Congleton
  • Student trip to Mailbox Mouldings, Stalybridge
  • Student trip to Kirkstone Quarries, Cumbria
  • Student trip to Progress, Bolton

Curriculum Responsibility

  • Responsible for award development, in conjunction with Course Leader
  • Class delivery at all three levels (3 year full-time degree program)
  • Design for Manufacturing (materials and processes)
  • Ergonomics – usually full sized rigs of ‘town cars’ / electric vehicles
  • Concept Design / Design Methodology
  • Thesis (equivalent) supervision – usually originating initial ideas for students, some of which have gone onto commercial development / businesses.

Interaction with External Examiner, Chief External Examiners, Departmental Assessment Boards and Departmental Award Boards.

Collation of module (class) evaluation paperwork – a quality control procedure capturing STUDENT experience of class content, faculty input, resources available, teaching and learning strategies employed.

Completion of module (class) monitoring paperwork – a quality control procedure reflecting upon FACULTY experience of class delivery. Commenting upon and addressing any significant STUDENT comments (as captured above) in relation to all delivered classes, per semester.

Integration of external examiner commentary on both student performance and faculty derived briefs, teaching strategies and action plans for the future.

University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States

  • Visiting Professor, Industrial Design / School of Architecture & Design
  • August 2012 – December 2012

Providing sabbatical cover for Prof Lance Rake

Covered 4 classes, 24 hours teaching per week, responsible for 78 students. With the inclusion of R2Fact / Garden Weasel project, this effectively became 5 classes.

Covered following classes:

  • INDD446-001 Advanced Industrial Design studio (2 internal projects plus R2Fact ‘weeder’ competition)
  • ADS560-1600 Topics in Design (Maya Elective)
  • INDD580-1000 Senior Industrial Design Studio (Thesis/Dissertation) (individual projects plus ‘weeder’) ‘Weeder’ press articles here. Internal article and LJW article
  • INDD378-1200 Problems in Industrial Design: (Laboratory Main)

In addition to the above teaching duties, I provided support for following activities and initiatives:

  • Portfolio Days

Kansas City – alongside other ‘design’ staff

Des Moines, IA – sole KU academic representative for ‘design’ department – approx. 20 portfolios seen. Supported / supporting Kate McCown

  • Virtual Reality (VR) initiative / documentation

Internal support for department, looking at potential investment in VR equipment / resources. Supporting Greg Thomas, Director, Center for Design Research, KU.

  • Garmin visit, Olathe.

Supported and attended the IDSA visit to Garmin.

  • TED Talks – Supported Andrew Knuth’s application to attend TED Talk on Urban Agriculture (ID Thesis student)
  • SCAD Application – Supported / reference for Justin Zielke’s application to SCAD ‘Graduate’ Program… Justin was an Illustration student on one of my Mata classes.
  • On-going – ‘ad hoc’ support via ‘things seen’ emails to current Thesis ID students.

University of Derby – United Kingdom

  • External Examiner for MA Performance Design and MSc Performance Sportswear
  • 2007 – 2010

External Examiner (Evaluator), Derby, UK. In the UK, the External Examiner role is an independent reviewer of academic programs, assessing the validity of awards (courses), their academic integrity and the parity of grades awarded. This role requires multiple visits to the host institution, sampling of work, feedback and a report. Post is normally 3-5 years. This is a privileged role, as institutions are looking to you to advise and guide them in terms of academic integrity of their programs.

University of Central Lancashire, Preston, United Kingdom

  • External Examiner for BA (Hons) Industrial Design, BSc (Hons) Product Design
  • 2006 – 2009 (?)

External Examiner. In the UK, the External Examiner role is an independent reviewer of academic programs, assessing the validity of awards (courses), their academic integrity and the parity of grades awarded. This role requires multiple visits to the host institution, sampling of work, feedback and a report. Post is normally 3-5 years. This is a privileged role, as institutions are looking to you to advise and guide them in terms of academic integrity of their programs.

University of Central Lancashire, Preston, United Kingdom

  • Course Leader, BA (Hons) Industrial Design, BSc (Hons) Product Design
  • 1995 – 1996 (80+ students across 3 years)

Management of BOTH awards, to include following activities and roles:

Role / Responsibilities

  • Documentation – e.g. student handbooks, module packs etc.
  • Timetabling
  • Resources, including co-ordination with professional model-makers who managed our dedicated 3D workshop
  • Design briefs
  • Staffing co-ordination (with Engineering Faculty staff based 1 mile away)
  • Co-ordination with External Examiner
  • Exam Boards
  • Assessment Boards
  • Recruitment – both BA and BSc students
  • Interviewing of applicants (shared)
  • Awards Promotions at UK events
  • Co-ordination with external companies / clients

Curriculum Responsibility

  • Responsible for award development, in conjunction with Engineering campus staff (based 1 mile away)
  • Cross campus delivery
  • Class delivery at all three levels (3 year full-time degree program) – BA and BSc (Hons) students
  • Design for Manufacturing (materials and processes)
  • Ergonomics – usually full sized rigs of ‘town cars’ / electric vehicles
  • Concept Design / Design Methodology
  • Thesis (equivalent) supervision – usually originating initial ideas for students, some of which have gone onto commercial development / businesses

Lecturer / Course Leader – 1995 – April 1996

  • BA and BSc Industrial Design and Product Design awards. 50-90 students, 3 year full-time award.
  • Lecturer, BA (Hons) Industrial Design and BSc (Hons) Product Design, May 1992 – 1995

Part of original team, helped setup both awards with the original Course Leader, Robin N Wright. Graduates very successful, several now in key positions e.g.

  • McLaren Group, Alias Team Leader
  • UMBRO International
  • Bentley Motor Cars
  • Broader Automotive industry

Origination of ‘quality’ systems to include:

  • Duties also included the origination of design brief formats and ‘fast feedback’ systems to provide both Formative and Summative feedback to students in writing (supporting verbal feedback provided).
  • Most of the systems originated by myself were held up as examples of ‘best practice’ as we were striving for a standardized format of communication and feedback with students, something that was generally not ‘common practice’ for an ‘Arts’ based Faculty / Department.

Employment History : Professional

NOTE : UK academics are employed and salaried for the full year and have an ‘exclusivity of service’ contract, usually preventing them from working for others whilst employed (term time or otherwise) – so you will not see any consultancy activities in parallel to academic service.

As Award Leader / Course Leader, I also was tasked with the day to day management of these awards, which meant in was a 12 month role, not confined to delivery semesters.

Limited Company / Partnership / Self Employed

Industrial Design consultant, 1990 – 1992

Consultancy for:

  • ELECTROLUX Cookers, Spennymoor
  • Light & Sound Design (LSD), Birmingham
  • Swimlink

GE Plastics Europe BV, Bergen op Zoom, The Netherlands

  • Staff Designer, August 1988 – January 1990
  • Concept design origination for K’89 (Kitchen of the Future concept)
  • Blow Moulded Appliance doors
  • Computerized Washing machine – Philco, Italy – membrane switches / display
  • Handset concepts – MATRA, France – 3D moulded circuitry

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