1、

Q：离开家乡英国曼切斯特到武汉理工大学任教,能谈一谈最初教学时什么心情，这些年有哪些变化?

You left your hometown Manchester for Wuhan University of Technology to be a teacher, would you please talk about your first feeling of teaching and the changes in these years?

A：大约六年前，我第一次来到武汉，记忆已经有些模糊了。但我认为我的第一感觉是兴奋，我很期待去探索一种新的文化、一个新的地方、结识新的学生、了解他们的思维方式。

在这六年里，武汉发生了很大变化，地铁四通八达，街道更加生机勃勃。我认为武汉作为一个大学城，人口众多，随着时间的推移，它变得越来越多样化。

It’s almost six years since I first arrived in Wuhan and the memories are a little hazy. But I think my first feeling was of excitement, to explore a new culture, a new place, meet the new students and to see how their mind works.

Wuhan has changed a lot in these six years, the metro now connects almost all the places together, and the streets feel more alive and busier. I think Wuhan, being a University city, has a very diverse population, and as the years go on it is being more and more diverse.

2、

Q：多年的教学中,印象最深刻的事情是什么?   

What is the most impressive thing in many years of teaching?

A：对我而言，作为一名教师，比较难忘的经历是看到自己的学生成为伟大的设计师。看着他们成长，看着他们学有所成，为踏入社会做好准备，这就是教学的价值所在。

让我记忆犹新的一件事情是：我们的三位非常优秀的学生在英国领事馆和斯旺西的标志设计项目中入围决赛。我为这些学生的专业水平以及他们对项目的热情感到非常自豪。

For me, the more unforgettable experiences of being a teacher are when you can see the students becoming these great designers. To watch them grow and see their skills improve and readied for the outside world, that is what makes teaching worthwhile.

Though a particular stand-out moment for me was when three of our very talented students were selected as finalists in the Logo Design project with the British Consulate and Swansea. I was very proud of the level of professionalism in these students and their eagerness to engage in the project.

3、

Q：您更喜欢什么样子的学生呢？

What is your favourite type of student?

A：在我看来，勤学好问的学生是我最喜欢的学生类型。通过提问，他们展示了一种专注力和好奇心，这是成为优秀设计师的关键因素。

In my opinion, the student who is ready to ask questions to know more is my favourite type of student. By asking questions, they are displaying an attention and curiosity that is a key ingredient in being a good designer.

4、

Q：您的带领下,您希望您的学生有一个怎样的进步？

What progress do you expect your students to make under your leadership?

A：我的目标不仅是让学生成为优秀的设计师，而且也是为了让他们为出国深造做好准备。

My aim is not only to ready students to be good designers, but to also to prepare them for study abroad.

5、

Q：家人对你的工作支持吗?  

Does your family support your work?

A：我的家人工作都十分努力，我的父母都清楚从学生身上汲取闪光点是多么具有挑战性。所以，我的父母非常高兴我选择了在中国担任设计教师这个职业。

I come from a family of hard-working people, and my parents are both aware of how challenging it can be to draw the best from a student. So, my parents are very happy that I chose this career as a teacher of design in China.

6、

Q：来武汉几年,你带领老师和学生参与了不少艺术类活动,初衷是什么，效果如何？

In the past few years in Wuhan, you have led teachers and students to participate in many art activities, what is your original intention and what is the effect?

A：我认为这些课外项目对学生的成长很重要，原因有两点。首先，在课堂上工作和与真实客户合作是两种截然不同的情况。我希望学生能够理解这些差异，学会接受批评，理解大项目的内部运作。第二个原因是我希望学生融入艺术和设计圈子，因为这是设计的关键因素。你需要积极主动，并愿意认识新朋友，与新朋友进行交流，所以这些活动让学生有机会做到这一点。

There are two reasons why I feel these extra-curricular projects are important to a student’s growth. Firstly, working in a classroom and working with real clients are two very different situations. I hope that students can understand the differences and learn to take criticism, and understand the inner-workings of bigger projects. The second reason is that I want students to engage with the art and design circles, as this is a key factor in design. You need to be active and willing to meet and talk to new people, so these events give students the opportunity to do that.

7、

Q：你现在正在做的项目是什么，灵感如何产生的？

What is the project you are working on now and what about the inspiration?

A：这些年来，我们在武汉理工大学的帮助下共同开展了各种项目，例如斯旺西武汉友好交流城市标志设计项目、与英国文化协会的罗密欧与朱丽叶项目、D＆AD开幕式以及去年英国领事馆设计月“隐匿的设计”的现场展示项目。我让学院和学生参与这些项目的主要目的是让人们和这座城市对设计有更多的了解。我想证明，我们学院可以培养有才华又有求知欲的设计师，他们愿意参与一些令人兴奋的新鲜活动。我希望它也能鼓励未来有才华的学生选择我们学院。在UWTSD WUT（英国威尔士三一圣大卫大学-武汉理工大学）项目中，我们有一支优秀的教师队伍，我希望我们参与的这些项目能够提高人们对这一点的认识。

目前，我正在Big House美术馆举办个人展，借以探索和颂扬武汉这座城市。武汉就像是我的第二故乡，我想以不同的方式展示这座城市。为此，我选择了波普艺术主题，用鲜艳的色彩来表达情感。展览的重点是武汉的老建筑，比如汉口的水塔和一桥。这些建筑具有如此奇妙而复杂的设计，却往往被路人忽视。我希望这次展览能够激发武汉当地人更多地关注这座城市周围的奇观，探索更多，并发现隐藏的美好事物。展览将于2019年4月27日开幕，欢迎大家前来参观，并分享你们对这座美丽城市的感受和回忆。

Over the years we’ve worked together on a variety of projects with the help of the University, such as the Logo Design project for the relationship between Wuhan and Swansea, the Romeo and Juliet project with the British Council, the D&AD opening ceremony and the Hidden Design live illustration project last year for the British Consulate’s Design Month. My main purpose for involving the school and the students in these projects is to give a greater awareness to the people and the city about design. I want to show that our school can nurture talented and eager designers, who are willing to involve themselves in something exciting and new. I hope it can also encourage the future talented students to choose our school as their place to study. We have a great teaching faculty here in the UWTSD WUT program, and I hope these projects we take part in can raise the awareness of that.

Currently I am working on a solo-exhibition at the Big House art gallery, which explores and celebrates the city of Wuhan. Wuhan is like a second home to me, and I’d like to show the city in a different light. To do this, I have chosen the Pop Art theme, using vivid colours to express feeling and emotion. The focus is on the older structures of Wuhan, such as the 水塔 in Hankou and the 一桥. These structures have such fantastic and intricate designs, which are often overlooked by passersby. I hope this exhibition can inspire the local people of Wuhan to pay more attention to the wonders that surround this city, and to explore more and find these hidden gems. The exhibition will open on April 27th 2019, everyone is welcome to come visit and share their experiences and memories of this wonderful city.

8、

Q：艺术本科项目越来越多的学生出国深造，您想对他们说?

More and more students of BA Arts Undergraduate Project go abroad to study, what would you tell them?

A：我对出国深造的学生的建议是：融入其中，全身心地去体验不同的文化。大胆尝试与来自不同背景和国家的新朋友进行交流。

My advice to students going abroad to study would be to soak in the culture and experience it fully. Don’t be afraid to talk to new people from different backgrounds and countries.

供稿：中英艺术本科项目部