Hello! I’m Simon, a Senior Lecturer on the BA (Hons) Graphic Design undergraduate degree course. I started working here in 2012 originally as a dissertation supervisor, before moving up to a senior lecturer position in 2014. After graduating from my undergraduate degree at the University of Wales in 2004 I developed a freelance design practice working predominantly in nightlife and entertainment.

I teach across all three years of the Graphic Design course focussing mostly on theory and research modules. I have over 10 years of experience teaching contextual and critical studies for design subjects across a vast range of academic levels and circumstances.

I have a Ph.D in Media Studies from Leeds Beckett University. My thesis, titled Men, masculinities and the articulations of self: Self-reflexivity, subjectivity and identity, explored masculinities and men’s identities. My current research explores food packaging design, aesthetics and taste. I am particularly interested in understanding the relationship between food packaging design and class relations.

I have recently launched my website http:///www.simonspawforthjones.co.uk which I regularly update with my research activities, projects, and design related resources.

Articles

Spawforth-Jones, S. (2018) ‘Kerrang! Magazine and the representation of heavy metal masculinities (1981-95)’, Metal Music Studies, 4 (3), pp. 459-480.

Spawforth-Jones, S (2021) ‘Utilising mood boards as an image elicitation tool in qualitative research’, Sociological Research Online.

Conferences, Talks & Presentations

Spawforth-Jones, S. (2019) Utilising mood boards in media research. Research processes and methods symposium. Bradford College, Bradford. 29 – 3- October 2019.

Spawforth-Jones, S. (2017) Kerrang! magazine and the representation of heavy metal’s masculinity: a content analysis of Kerrang! cover images from 1981-1995, 20th Century British Periodicals. University of Reading. 4 July 2017.