Polly Macpherson

Academic profile

Ms Polly Macpherson

Associate Head of School
School of Art, Design and Architecture (Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business)

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The Global Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. Polly's work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

Goal 04: SDG 4 - Quality EducationGoal 05: SDG 5 - Gender EqualityGoal 09: SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and InfrastructureGoal 11: SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and CommunitiesGoal 17: SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals

About Polly

Polly Macpherson is Associate Professor of Design Practice in the School Art, Design and Architecture and the Creative Industries Supervisor in the Sustainable Earth Institutes Low Carbon Devon project at the University of Plymouth, UK.

  • Associate Professor of Design Practice - As a designer, researcher, and programme leader for the MDes Design, she currently leads a group of internationally acclaimed practitioners and researchers who teach the thinking, inventing, designing and creating of sustainably produced spaces, objects, and artefacts relevant for 21st century living.
  • Sustainable Earth Institute – Low Carbon Devon, Co-Investigator Creative Industries - Supported by an investment from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the three-year £2.6 million programme, supports Devon-based organisations to access research, business support, and engage with the University of Plymouth around the low-carbon agenda. There are many outcomes from this project including the Green Maker Initiative and related book, a timely collaboration project with MAKE southwest.

Teaching

Polly is interested in how things are made, how things can be made ethically and sustainability and how this can be taught in order to nurture individuals, develop creative voices, and construct sustainably produced spaces, objects, and artefacts relevant for 21st century living.

Interdisciplinary design to inspires you to challenge, disrupt and rethink design practices to
create unique and compelling objects, artefacts and user experiences.

This programme aligns with contemporary trends stressing the role of designers for global
prosperity, driving innovation and speculating with new, sustainable and material futures.

  • PhD Supervisor:

Design practice - craft, digital, material culture and sustainability

Her graduating students have achieved a wide range of progression opportunities including exhibitions, awards and employment: RSA Ceramics Future Design, Best Young Designer – Wallpaper, Lighting Association Design Award and Independent's Top 10 Sustainable Seating.

Graduates include:

External Student Engagement projects including:

Highlights

Polly Macpherson Meet Polly Macpherson
 An interview for the University of Plymouth Women's Network

South West Creative Technology Network South West Creative Technology Network
 Polly was a SWCTN Fellow, joining a number of other academics from the University expanding the use of creative digital technologies across the South West of England

Kirstie Allsopp with judges Piyush Suri and Polly Macpherson (Image: Raise the Roof Productions) University Associate Professor named as judge on C4’s hit new show
 Find out about Polly's role in C4’s Kirstie’s Celebrity Craft Masters

Pottery Academic portrait for Invenite magazine
 “There is an importance in being able to make something, to touch something and say ‘I did that’, whatever it may be.”

Polly Macpherson Evolving design teaching in a changing education climate
 Polly discusses how BA (Hons) 3D Design has adapted to students' needs

Polly Macpherson Design lecturer invited to judge prestigious national craft initiative
 Polly was selected to be one of the expert judges for the Woman's Hour Craft Prize 2017