Dr Robyn Cook
Senior Lecturer
Dr Robyn Cook is a senior lecturer in the Department of Graphic.
Since 2023 she has worked to champion departmental research; research-integrated teaching; and doctoral projects within the department.
Prior to that, she was the Course Leader for the MA Communication Design at Falmouth, and the Course Leader for the BA (Hons) Graphic Design at the University of Johannesburg (South Africa).
Her research is focused on the epistemics of power in relation to design as a hyperobject, and the forms of domination (language, identity, economics, technology, education […]) that mesh the systems and objects of society.
Her teaching and practice is informed by her experience as an art director and graphic designer for various agencies including Ogilvy & OgilvyAction.
She also runs The Office for {Uncertain} Technologies: part ulterior-wormhole, part other-thing studio, and part zero-plus-zero publisher.
External Links
Qualifications
Qualifications
| Year | Qualification | Awarding body |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | FHEA Advance HE | |
| 2017 | DPhil Visual Art | University of Pretoria |
| 2011 | MA Fine Art | Wits University |
| 2009 | BA Fine Art (Hons) | Wits University |
| 2001 | N.Dip Graphic Design | Wits Technikon |
Honors and awards
| Year | Description |
|---|---|
| 2015 | NRF Thuthuka Research Grant, National Research Foundation: South Africa |
| 2015 | FRC Creative Production Award, University of Johannesburg: South Africa |
| 2014 | NRF Thuthuka Research Grant, National Research Foundation: South Africa |
| 2014 | FRC Creative Production Award, University of Johannesburg: South Africa |
| 2010 | Ernest Oppenheimer Memorial Trust (scholarship): South Africa |
| 2010 | National Arts Council of South Africa (scholarship): South Africa |
| 2009 | Brait-Everard Award Johannesburg: South Africa |
| 2009 | Anya Millman Travel Scholarship, University of the Witwatersrand: South Africa |
Membership of external committees
International Society of Typographic DesignersResearch Interests
Research Topics
- Critical Design
- Critical Pedagogy
- Ethics
- Participatory Design
Research Outputs
Publications and research outputs
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Cook, Robyn, PLATFORM P and Korean Society of Typography
(2023), Unequal Stories: Pedagogic responses to gender inequality in Design, In: Korean Society of Typography, Korean Society of Typography, Seoul, Korea, pp. 86-101, ISSN: 2093-1166 -
Cook, Robyn and Sekyeong, Kwon
(2019), Speculating on the Future of Graphic Design in the Age of Intelligent Machines, In: Design and Semantics of From and Movement: DeSForM 2019 Beyond Intelligence, DeSForM, MIT, Samberg Center, 6th Floor, E52 MIT Campus. 50 Memorial Drive, Cambridge MA 02139, pp. 262-266, ISSN: 2706-6150 -
Cook, Robyn
(2016), The Parking Gallery: Experimental practice and the artist-run initiative in South Africa, In: De Arte, Taylor & Francis, South Africa, 51 (1), pp. 57-73, ISSN: 0004-3389, Item availability may be restricted.
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Cook, Robyn and Cook, Sue
(2019), Reflections on reflexivity and ethics for relational design and relational design pedagogy, Goldsmiths, University of London in partnership with The Glasgow School of Arts, (Submitted) -
Cook, Robyn
(2017), Design, critical pedagogy and supporting the student-led movement from within, In: The Graphic Design Educators’ Network 2017 Conference, 7—8 September 2017, The Graphic Design Educators’ Network 2017 Conference Ideas of Revolt: Stationing ideas of revolt within contemporary graphic design education Venue: Sheffield Institute of the Arts, Sheffield Hallam University -
Cook, Robyn
(2016), A crash course in empathy: Design Thinking 101, In: ACT Conference, 16 March 2016, Johannesburg, South Africa, (Unpublished) -
Cook, Robyn
(2013), Sober & Lonely: On generosity, artist-run platforms and new institutional strategies, In: SAVAH Conference, 5-8 September 2014, Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town, South Africa
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Cook, Robyn
(2019), Design Thinking, neoliberalism, and the trivialisation of social change in higher education, In: Standing Items: Critical pedagogies in South African art, design & architecture, Jacana Media, South Africa, pp. 12-26, ISBN: 978-1-928440-21-5
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Cook, Robyn
(2018), What’s the point of an MA in design anyway?, In: What’s the point of an MA in design anyway?, It's Nice That, Online, ISSN: Online
Externally funded research grants information
| Collaborators | Currency | Funder | HESA Category | Project title | Value | Year ending | Year starting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Johannesburg |
Global Challenges Research Fund | Gender in Design | 2021 | 2018 |
Research Students
Current research students
Sara Hougham-Slade 'A practice-based enquiry on weight and correlative movement through non-digital ‘Haptic Illustrative Devices’ as textual aids for neurodiverse individuals'
Tamarin Harvey 'A person-centred study on the introduction and wellbeing impact of handheld tablets to residents of
care homes'
Kelly Parker 'Blackout: A phenomenological study of stereotypes and misrepresentation in contemporary UK Linear TV Advertising on Black UK Audiences'
Sana Batool 'Amplifying Marginalised Voices: Media and Shias in Pakistan'
Faith Kirigha 'Digital authoritarianism: A critical examination of the regulation of social media
content and its impact on freedom of speech in Kenya'
Ian Walden 'A good death: Creating discursivity around old age rational suicide through design'
Teaching
Courses taught
- MA Communication Design
- BA(Hons) Graphic Design
Professional Engagement
Independent professional practice
Selected Exhibitions (2013-Present)
2020 ...she finds not her sum but her differences: a project in parts, Gallery Gallery, Johannesburg: South Africa (Curators: Chloë Reid & Sara-Aimee Verity)
2016 The New Biennial, Botkyrka Konsthall, Fittja, Sweden (Curator: Abir Boukhari).
2015 Concerted Efforts, West Gallery, Melbourne, Australia (Curators: Sam McCulloch & Christopher Williams Wynn).
2014 Hisk Show, De Brakke Grond, Amsterdam, Netherlands (Curators: Clare Butcher & Christina Li).
2014 Gesture, GUS Gallery, Stellenbosch, South Africa (Curator: Lucy Turpin).
2013 Les Salons Dus Salon, The Island, Chaussée de Wavre 155, Brussels, Belgium (Curator: Devrim Bayar).
2013 The Space Between Us, Courtesy, 73 Rue Anselm Saint Ouen, Paris, France (Curator: Ana Iwataki).
2013 Transcontinental Express, Museum Perron Oost, Amsterdam, Netherlands (Curators: Clare Butcher & Lot van Gelder).
2013 My Voice Will Now Appear in Another Part of the Room, Joshua Tree, USA (Curator: Anna Astrand)* 2013 Precognito / Incognito, Santa Monica Museum of Art, USA (Benefit auction).
2013 Devil's Heaven, Watermill Centre, New York, USA (Benefit auction).
Curated Partnerships (2013-Present)
2015 Something to Come Later with Samantha McCulloch & Christopher Williams Wynn, S&L, Johannesburg, South Africa.
2015 Ridder & Thirst with Abri De Swart, S&L, Johannesburg, South Africa.
2014 Year End Function with Jon Bernad, Robyn Nesbitt, Nina Barnett & Piya Wangthiang, S&L, Johannesburg, South Africa.
2014 None Sights & Tasty Ceilings with Anna Astrand, S&L, Johannesburg, South Africa.
2014 Astrological Gastronomy. S&L, Johannesburg, South Africa.
2014 The Unfailing Table with Anna Romanenko & Bjorn Kühn. S&L, Johannesburg, South Africa.
2014 A view of the moon with Robyn Nesbitt. S&L, Johannesburg, South Africa.
2014 Imaginary Appetites with James Webb. S&L, Johannesburg, South Africa.
2014 Artshakes with SmallSips (Karin Tan & Sky Quadling). S&L, Johannesburg, South Africa.
2014 Next time when you hear with Malose Kadromatt Malahlella. S&L, Johannesburg, South Africa.
2014 Futures, S&L, Johannesburg, South Africa.
2013 A Dag Van Kunst, SYB Kunsthuis, Beesterzwaag, Netherlands.
2013 An Experiment to Test the Destiny of the World, Ithuba Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa.
