Dr James Branch

Senior Lecturer, Design Strategy

James is a lecturer and researcher specialising in design and education. He holds a doctorate in HCI and UX Design Education from Loughborough University, as well as an MA degree in Design with Teaching and Learning.
 
His recent research explored the work of UX and digital product/service designers, translating the findings into a learning design toolkit to support academics. Before transitioning into education, James was a graphic designer in London, where he worked on branding, marketing communications, and publishing projects.
 
At Falmouth University, James teaches a range of on-campus and online modules, including UX Research/Design, Creative Problem Solving, Brand Creation, and Startup.

External Links

Contact details

Email James.Branch@falmouth.ac.uk

    Qualifications

    Qualifications

    Year Qualification Awarding body
    2023 PhD, HCI / UXD Education (Pass with modest corrections) Loughborough University
    2014 MRes Arts and Cultural Research University of Brighton
    2010 MA Design with Learning and Teaching in HE Kingston University, London
    2000 BA Design Studies Goldsmiths

    Membership of external committees

    Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

    Research Interests

    Research interests and expertise

    Areas of teaching

    • Creative Problem Solving
    • User-Centred Design
    • UX Research
    • Design Research
    • Lean Startup
    • Qualitative Research
    • Visual Design
    • Brand Strategy and Design

    Research Outputs

    Publications and research outputs

    • Branch, James

      Evans, Mark, (2021), Do UX design courses meet industry’s needs? Analysing UX degrees and job adverts, In: The Design Journal, Taylor Francis, London, 24 (4), ISSN: 1756-3062

    • Branch, James

      (2016), Mapping the mast, In: Communication Design: Interdisciplinary and Graphic Design Research, Bloomsbury, London, UK, 3 (1), ISSN: 2055-7140

    • Branch, James

      (2018), Learning from Networked Public Space, In: Cultural Politics, Duke University Press, London, UK, 14 (1), pp. 129-131, ISSN: 1751-7435

    • Su, Cui and Branch, James

      (2011), Print Matters: Zines, In: Print Matters, March 2011, Southampton Hartley Library

    Teaching

    Courses taught

    • BA (Hons) Creative Advertising
    • BA(Hons) Marketing Communications
    • BA(Hons) Media Production
    • MA User Experience Design (Online)

    Professional Engagement

    Social, community and cultural engagement

    (2024) Revalidation Panel Member: BA(Hons) Graphic Design, Edge Hill University

    Engagement with professional associations and societies

    • Reviewer. 2023-present. The Design Journal

    • (2022) Revalidation Panel Member: BA(Hons) UX/UI, Ravensbourne University London 

    • (2016-2020) External Examiner: BA(Hons) Graphic Communication Design, University of Northampton

    • (2014-2018) External Examiner: BA(Hons) Graphic Design, University of West London