Associate Professor Bernadine Murray
Head of School
With a first degree in Fine Art and a Masters in Interactive Multimedia, Bernadine has a keen interest in ensuring Art and Design students are able to gain a full grasp of both traditional and digital media and are fully equipped for the fast-paced changes taking place in the creative industries.
Bernadine’s predominant career focus has been education, whether that be through traditional lecturing roles, through the development of educational software or through the establishment of community arts projects. This background supports her dedication to communicating the benefits of an involvement in art and design practice and the advantages of art and design education to the wider community. She is committed to raising the visibility and accessibility of contemporary arts in and around Chester.
Bernadine has been lecturing since 1996 and has taught at a number of Further and Higher Education institutes across the North West. She joined the University of Chester in 2007 as a Senior Lecturer in Graphic Design and has subsequently taken on roles as Programme Leader for Graphic Design (2008-2018) and Deputy Head of Art & Design (2015-2018). She has been Head of Art & Design since March 2018. With a background in Graphic Design, Multimedia and Fine Art, Bernadine’s creative industry experience includes: freelance graphic design; in-house graphic design; front and back end software development for educational games; graphic illustration and community arts.
Bernadine lectures on the BA (hons) Graphic Design programme and since the commencement of her employment she has taught across all modules and all levels within that programme. Most recently, due to her current role, she predominantly delivers sessions on the Professional Practice module, a joint 3rd year [level 6] module undertaken by students from Fine Art, Graphic Design, Interior Design, Photography and Product Design. The module aims to prepare students for graduate level employment or further study.
Bernadine’s current educational doctorate research is specifically focused on design pedagogy, including the current and future role of social media within design education, investigating the barriers to creativity and role of meditative practices in the development of creative resilience. Previous research includes user-centred, user experience design and human computer interaction. Her recent creative practice explores numerous themes relating to meditative practice, the tension and transition between internal and external narratives and landscapes, embodiment, impermanence, liminal space and metacognition.
Peer Reviewed Journal Articles
Adams, J., Hyde, W., & Murray, B. (2013). Editorial - Design Education: International Perspectives and Debates. In: International Journal of Art & Design Education. Vol. 32, No. 2, pp.142-45.
Exhibitions - Group
2012 University of Chester Department of Art & Design Exhibition, Contemporary Art Space Chester Gallery, Chester UK
Other publications
Murray, B. (2011) In: Art & Design Staff Portfolio Edition (250). Cian Quayle & Mireille Fauchon eds., Chester: University of Chester.
| 2001 | Art Attack - Make it! | CD-ROM |
| 2004 | Get On | CD-ROM |
| 2001 | Art Attack - Make it! | CD-ROM |
| 2001 | Key Stage 1 English Tuition | CD-ROM |
| 2000 | Thomas Logic | CD-ROM |
| 2000 | Thomas English | CD-ROM |
| 2000 | Thomas Teaches IT | CD-ROM |
| 2000 | Thomas Tells the Time | CD-ROM |
| 1999 | Bronny Bear Spielen und Lernen | CD-ROM |
- BA (Hons Degree) Fine Art
- PG Certificate in Community Arts
- PGCE in Further & Higher Education
- MA Interactive Multimedia
- Currently researching an Educational Doctorate