Tom Hignett
Technician/Demonstrator
Biography
Tom is a long serving member of the Technical Team in the School for the Creative Industries. He has a wealth of experience in digital imaging technology and supports a range of processes and programmes, in particular the Graphic Design Programme within Art, Design & Innovation. In recent years Tom has taken on an expanded responsibility representing the school in wider initiatives such as the Technician Commitment, the CHEAD Technical Alliance, the HEaTED Creative Practitioner Network and the TMU and is actively involved in national efforts to recognise and improve the contributions the technical community make to the Higher Education landscape.
Teaching and Supervision
Tom enjoys his involvement with the Motion Design and Animation modules (offered in Art, Design & Innovation and Communications, Screen & Performance respectively). His main area of responsibility is in developing students skills in various animation techniques with an emphasis not just on preparing students for the module at hand but also with a view to encouraging students to develop their own independent learning strategies and give them the confidence to continue developing their skills both during their education and as they move into careers as creative practitioners. Beyond the classroom Tom is also involved in various committees and steering groups that inform the strategic direction of teaching and learning at the University of Chester.
Research and Knowledge Exchange
Tom's claim to fame is that he was using the term "fungible" in arts research before it was cool. With a background in both the Arts and Science Tom is well placed to explore the relationship between digital technologies and digital culture; his research leverages the dual nature of digital images of being both hexadecimal data and cultural signifier to explore our relationship with our data. He has enjoyed some modest success presenting at conferences and showing in exhibitions as well as squeezing an MRes out of the idea. Having worked with numerous researchers and PhD students Tom is well aware of the toll this can take on a person and has no current plans to pursue a doctorate.