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Nicki Wragg |
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Head of Academic Group CD |
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Masters of Design (Multimedia Design)., 2000. Swinburne University of Technology
Graduate Certificate Internet Studies., 2005. Curtin University of Technology
Bachelor of Arts Degree (Graphic Design)., 1989. Swinburne Institute of Technology
“I look for ideas, I love ideas,” says Nicki “ideas that empower people to act and accomplish something. The fact that with design you can motivate people to act immediately is fascinating.”
Nicole (Nicki) Wragg is the head of Communication Design at Swinburne; and lectures into the Honours program in the areas of Communication and Multimedia Design. Nicki views her role as about pulling apart perceptions and teasing out ideas to really get into the high end of conceptualization and implementation.
Nicki has worked extensively as a graphic designer since 1990 and continues to work as a design consultant in brand identity and publication. Having taught in Higher Education both in Australia and internationally, Nicki has developed an immense passion for ideas and collaboration. In 2005, 2007 and 2009 she received the Vice-Chancellors award for Teaching Excellence and in 2006 received a Carrick Award for Excellence of Flexible Teaching Methods.
Her current work with Honours students focuses on the intersection of practice and research: Exploring the implications of design within the context of social patterns and new technologies, to identify and uncover gaps that require design solutions.
“Students need to explore and identify the cognitive values of the public, the social edicts and social values of communities. To look at things, not just at face value, and pull out sub-themes that give new direction and meaning. When students start to achieve these multiple levels of effect, resolve of depth and layers of meaning in their work that’s when things get really exciting.”
Nicki is also undertaking study for her PhD at Curtin University of Technology. Her PhD research examines professional designers’ perceptions of interactivity and how those perceptions are implemented in design for the web.
“As we enter into this thing called ‘Post-Literate society’ many people can read but they choose not to. It is a very interesting time in terms of what communication design can offer. Once upon a time you had just print/television/radio; today the web affords all of these plus a whole new zone of distribution and ability to communicate a message; allowing for great new and original challenges.”