Dr Robyn Cook
Senior Lecturer
Dr Robyn Cook is a senior lecturer in the Department of Graphic Design.
Since 2022 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 Ulterior Research: part design research repository, part other-thing studio, part zero-plus-zero publisher.
External Links
Qualifications
Qualifications
| Year | Qualification | Awarding body |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | FHEA Advance HE | |
| 2017 | DPhil Visual Art | University of Pretoria |
| 2014 | Certificate, Strengthening Postgraduate Supervision | Rhodes University: South Africa |
| 2011 | MA Fine Art | Wits University |
| 2009 | BA Fine Art (Hons) | Wits University |
| 2001 | N.Dip Graphic Design | Wits Technikon |
Research Outputs
Publications and research outputs
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Cook, Robyn
(2025), UNEQUAL STORIES (v1): SURFACING STORIES OF GENDER INEQUALITY IN DESIGN, In: The International Journal of Design in Society, Common Ground Research Networks, Illinois, USA, ISSN: 2325-1328, Item availability may be restricted. -
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
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Cook, Robyn
(2021), Unequal Stories
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
