Rebecca Falcon | University of Chester

Programme Leader for BA (Hons) Product Design

A professional with a proven track record in education and design, with international experience in leading innovation projects. An experienced educator working with students from secondary schools to Level 7 in Higher Education, culminating in the creation and delivery of a new BA Hons programme. A blend of commercial experience, curriculum development and hands-on teaching.

Rebecca has global experience working for a variety of commercial organisations in Europe, Asia, and New Zealand, including as a Design Manager for a Research & Development company designing a high-tech toileting system, a Freelance Design Consultant for a major manufacturer of nursery products in China, and an IT Project Manager for an Energy Generator and Retailer, responsible for the integration and installation of 50,000 smart meters across New Zealand. She has a commercial perspective and an understanding of different organisational structures, in addition to experiences of different educational settings.

At the University of Chester, Rebecca has been responsible for creating, managing and delivering the BA programme in Product Design. She works passionately as Programme Leader to create opportunities for social and immersive learning through live briefs, authentic assessments which mirror an industrial experience and enhance opportunities for employment. The digital curriculum in Product Design now includes the appropriate use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR) and 3D scanning, whilst maintaining the essential hands-on design skills required by employers. Rebecca has curated an inclusive, well-organised and vibrant teaching environment for students and staff and the programme achieved 100% graduate employability in 2021.

Research, in the context of Product Design, is a practical endeavour which underpins Rebecca's Practice-Informed Teaching. She has recently integrated the principles of Circular Design, working in partnership with a leading design agency to create a Circular Design Framework which can be used by Product Designers and Product Design students. Rebecca is an expert practitioner of the Design Thinking approach to understand user problems, creatively explore opportunities and most importantly, deliver workable solutions. Her recent work with the Centre for Academic Innovation and Development (CAID) on the Strategic Innovation Forum (SIF) for ‘Better Assessment’, demonstrated her ability to use these tools to instigate institution-wide improvements.

Rebecca is part of a team who have recently been awarded Regional Innovation Funding (£20k) for a project named ‘Saltation’ which will connect UOC students, graduates and staff with local creative industries and community groups. The medium of salt will be explored to stimulate ideas and outputs, focusing on sustainable practices and the levelling up agenda, through research and development, events, workshops, exhibitions and publications. Students are keen to experiment with circular and regenerative materials, so the longer-term goal is to work with colleagues to set up a dedicated a Materials Lab operated by the University.

Rebecca works with staff at Business School to deliver Knowledge Exchange Workshops (KEW), and is an instructor for Lego Serious Play.

BSc Industrial Design & Technology
Postgraduate Certificate – Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (University of Chester)
Fellow of the Higher Education Authority (FHEA)