Ms Janet Saunders

Ms Janet Saunders

Lecturer,
Design

Biography

Janet is an experienced visual communicator and has held a variety of design, production and project management positions within the design industry. She started her career as a graphic designer and illustrator, working mainly in print production and promotions. As the industry developed, she too changed her focus from print based graphic design to online delivery. After completing her Masters in Digital Design here at the Western Sydeny University, she specialised in the development of immersive, interactive online teaching and training resources. Whether it is designing for print, or an online environment; the creative thinking process remains the same. 

Now Janet shares this industry experience whilst teaching undergraduate design students here at UWS. Her drive to find new strategies to engage students and encourage creative thinking and design excellence, has led her to her current area of PhD research into the role and value of drawing in the creative thinking process through exploring improvisional drawing techniques.

This information has been contributed by Ms Saunders.

Qualifications

  • MDsgn University of Western Sydney
  • BA(VC) University of Technology, Sydney

Professional Memberships

  • AGDA (Australian Graphic Design Association) (2013)

Interests

  • Visual Arts

Organisational Unit (School / Division)

  • Design

Contact

Email: J.Saunders@westernsydney.edu.au
Phone:
Mobile:
Location: ED.G.72
Parramatta

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Teaching

Previous Teaching Areas

  • 10035 Publications 4: Publication Production, 2014
  • 101921 Visual Storytelling, 2014
  • 10914 Professional Design Practice, 2014

Publications

Journal Articles

  • Saunders, J. (2022), 'Drawing for wellbeing', Reconnect: Creative Contributions for Cultural Wellbeing, , pp 27 - 28.
  • Saunders, J. and Saunders, J. (2019), 'Finding my way through drawing : the evolution of a thesis', Global Media Journal Australian Edition, vol 13, no 1 .

Exhibitions

  • 2022, 'Beauty Looking Black; Bush Stars; The Aftermath'
  • 2022, 'Finding Light through Dark'
  • 2022, 'Desiderata Intro Image; For the Love of Gropers; Rise up Hawksbill; Skink Soulmates; United We Stand; Stygofauna Escape; Mask-Faced Owl Protest'

Back to the drawing board? Exploring the value of drawing in the creative visual thinking process using improvisational drawing techniques and the ipad.

My thesis will explore the value of a rough sketch or 'process drawing', in the visual conceptualization or ‘design thinking’ process of Visual Communication Design students at the University of Western Sydney (UWS).

It will include the development of drawing activities using ‘improvisational’ drawing techniques such as 'squiggling'. This research aims to foster originality and creativity, encourage drawing participation and discourage visual plagiarism. 

This information has been contributed by Ms Saunders.

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