Rate My Professor Claire Lockwood

Claire Lockwood serves as Head of the Design and Digital Arts Department within the Nottingham School of Art & Design at Nottingham Trent University, a position she assumed upon joining the institution in 2019. With more than twenty years of experience in art and design higher education, she holds an MA in Visual Communication. Following her graduation, she taught on undergraduate and postgraduate graphic design courses. Her first teaching role was on the BA Graphic Design programme at Wanganui Polytechnic in New Zealand. She later worked as an in-house designer for Friends of the Earth for several years, alongside freelancing as a graphic designer. Returning to academia, she joined Birmingham City University and advanced through roles including course leader, subject area lead, and deputy head of department. Previously, as Head of Art & Design at Sheffield Hallam University, she contributed to repurposing a Victorian post office into a contemporary departmental facility.

At Nottingham Trent University, Lockwood has led the project for the new Design & Digital Arts building, which opened in 2024, supporting courses in graphic design, animation, games, filmmaking, photography, and fine art. Her research interests include design education, graphic design, design process, creative industries, and knowledge exchange. She promotes innovative teaching, industry partnerships, and student opportunities aligned with sector advancements. Externally, she serves as an external examiner, most recently for the MA Graphic Design at Leeds Beckett University, and as a validation external panel member, subject reviewer, accreditation review panel member for the National Centre for Academic Accreditation & Evaluation, and QAA advisory group member for subject benchmark statements. She is also a board of trustees member for The Level Centre in Derbyshire, specializing in visual, digital, and performing arts for disabled creatives.