David Crow is Head of the [School of Design at Manchester Metropolitan University.][] A former student of the communication media degree before the advent of computers or digital processes, David returned to MMU in the early nineties to complete an MA in Communication Design focusing on unofficial visual language systems.

His industrial experience was gained in London where he worked on the design and production of various projects including books, brochures, packaging and promotional material.

As a senior designer for Island Records, he was responsible for art direction and production and managed promotional and advertising campaigns for a variety of artists. Setting up his own studio as a freelance designer, his clients included Sony UK and USA, Virgin Records, Island Records and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

In 1993 he moved into HE as a Senior Lecturer in graphic design at University College Salford where he helped to write a new ambitious degree in design practice during what was a critical time for Salford as its course base moved away from FE.

In 1995 he was appointed as Head of Graphic Arts at Liverpool John Moores University. Professor Crow’s research specialty is experimental typography, using font authoring software to generate systems of symbols, and as a practising artist he has produced and exhibited works in different media using animation, CD-ROMs and interactive and non-linear work. He has exhibited in the USA, Korea and Israel, as well as Europe, and most of his tours have been funded by industrial sponsorship from software and hardware companies and the British Council.

His first book, Visible Signs, published in 2003 by AVA, is an introduction to semiotics aimed primarily at students. But his work is more likely to be found in publications about graphic design that illustrate his interest and expertise in typography and visual language systems.

His work is featured in the recent publications The Typographic Experiment by Teal Triggs and No More Rules — Graphic Design and Postmodernism by Rick Poynor.

[School of Design at Manchester Metropolitan University.]: http://www.artdes.mmu.ac.uk/

Créditos