Dr. Karen Lisa Bull

Associate Head of Industrial Design

Principal Lecturer of Industrial Design and Theory and Analysis

Deputy Director of the Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning in Transport and Product Design

Pedagogic Development Tutor

Principal Lecturer for Industrial Design

Biography:

Karen Bull is a Principal Lecturer of Industrial Design and Design Research in the School of Art and Design. Beyond her teaching role she has had key responsibilities for managing the CETL-funded Centre of Excellence Product and Automotive Design (CEPAD) and a core research focus around the development of design pedagogy. Karen's PhD 'Advanced Personal Telecommunication Products, Systems and Industrial Design' considered the role of industrial designers during the development of advanced technology mobile communication products. It argued that industrial designers should be involved early during development to enhance a development team's recognition of emergent design opportunity and to strengthen understanding of users in relation to products and associated systems. It proposed a design process model that encourages an integrated and collaborative exploration of design opportunity from a user perspective. Karen currently teaches design research skills, critical and creative thinking techniques at all undergraduate and postgraduate levels. She has key responsibilities for managing first year automotive students and enhancing teaching and learning practices within the department.

Qualifications:

• Ph.D., Industrial Design and Advanced Telecommunication Products, University of Central England
• Pg.Cert., Teaching and Learning, Coventry University
• M.A., Industrial Design, University of Central England
• P.G.Dip., Industrial Design, University of Central England
• B.A (Hons), Three Dimensional Design, Bristol Polytechnic
• BTEC, National Diploma in Art and Design, Reigate School of Art and Design

Selected outputs:

• Bull, K.L., Osmond, J., and Tovey, M. (2009) 'Threshold concepts and the transport and product design curriculum: reports of research in progress'. Art, Design and Communication in Higher Education 8 (3)
• Bull, K.L. (1998) 'System-Operated Product Development and the Craft of Integration'. In Quantum Leap: Managing New Product Innovation. Ed. by Jerrard, B., and Newport, R. Taylor Francis