Nigel Aono-Billson

Professional Practice, Education & Research

Since establishing my career in the Creative Industries as a Graphic Designer in the mid-1980s, I have developed an extensive and internationally engaged body of professional practice. Over four decades, I have been commissioned by a diverse range of clients and organisations to conceive, develop and produce creative design solutions across graphic design, visual communication and related fields, working in both national and international contexts.

Alongside my professional practice, I have pursued a substantial career in Higher Education, combining design practice with teaching, mentoring, curriculum development and academic leadership. My first teaching appointment was at the Willem de Kooning Academie (Academie van Beeldende Kunsten) in Rotterdam in 1991. Since then, I have taught and mentored across undergraduate and postgraduate Graphic Design and Visual Communication programmes in the UK, USA, Finland and Thailand.

My academic contribution has extended beyond teaching to encompass the development and shaping of design education. I have contributed to the establishment and validation of a number of undergraduate programmes in Graphic Design and Digital Design, together with their coordination, curriculum development and delivery. This experience has enabled me to work across different educational contexts and pedagogical models, while maintaining a strong connection between contemporary professional practice and design education.

My ongoing practice-led research explores the relationship between graphic design, visual culture, communication and creative practice. I continue to develop and disseminate research through an internationally oriented programme of practice, publications, exhibitions and other forms of dissemination. This research is closely connected to my professional design practice, allowing commercial commissions, independent projects, writing and academic enquiry to operate as complementary and mutually informing areas of activity.

Alongside my design and academic work, I am an active design writer and author. Writing provides an additional means through which I examine, contextualise and communicate ideas around graphic design and visual culture, extending my practice beyond the production of visual artefacts into critical and reflective discourse.

Across these interconnected areas of practice, my work is grounded in a sustained interest in how graphic design can operate as a form of cultural, critical and communicative practice.

Employment History

2023 Course Leader, MA Graphic Design (Hons) Graphic Communication, MA Graphic Design, University of Brighton, Brighton (current).

2023 Senior Lecturer, Graphic Design 1 FTE BA (Hons) Graphic Communication, MA Graphic Design, University of Brighton, Brighton (current).

2022–2023 Senior Lecturer, Graphic Design (fixed term) BA (Hons) Graphic Communication, MA Graphic Design, University of Brighton, Brighton.

2019 Partner KOBO A–B + Craft & Culture Japanese textiles and living, retail company. www.kobo-a-b.co.uk @kobo_a_b. (current)

2019–2019 Visiting Arjan, Open studio workshops, CommDe | The International Programme in Communication Design, Department of Industrial Design, Faculty of Architecture, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok.

2014–2018 Subject leader, Graphic Communication/Senior Lecturer, 1 FTE BA (Hons) Graphic Communication, Norwich University of the Arts, Norwich.

2013–2014 Hourly paid lecturer BA (Hons) Graphic Communication, Norwich University of the Arts, Norwich.

2012–2017 External examiner, FdA Graphic Design, UCA/Barking and Dagenham College, Epsom and Farnham, Romford.

2011–2013 Pathway Leader, Senior Lecturer, 0.6 FTE Graphic Design, BA (Hons) Visual Arts. Tutor: Yr1 (level 4), Yr2 (level 5), HND Graphic Design and Advertising, Canterbury College, Canterbury.

2009–2010 Sessional lecturer, digital media Yr2 (level 5) HEI Industry advisor and validation panel member, to BA (Hons) Graphic Design, Web Design, Video and Motion Graphics (digital suite) and the BA (Hons) Combined Honours, Multimedia Design, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury.

2007–2011 Pathway leader and Sessional lecturer, Graphic Design, BA (Hons) Visual Arts. Tutor: Yr1 (level 4), Yr2 (level 5), HND Graphic Design and Advertising, Canterbury College, Canterbury.

2006–2007 Sessional lecturer BA (Hons) Graphic Design Yr1 (level 4), Yr2 (level 5), Digital Processes for Web and New Media Environments, University of Derby, Derby.

2005–2008 Senior Lecturer, 0.5 FTE BA (Hons) Graphic Design Part–time route, Tutor, BA (Hons) Design & Art Direction. Tutor, MA (Hons) Design & Art Direction, Manchester School of Art & Design, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester.

2003–2004 In-house – Art director/installation artist, residency, Kyoya/Kangian, Japan.

2002–2005 Graphic designer and owner, studio aono-billson, Japan.

2001–2001 HEI advisor and assistant to Malcolm Garret RDI MBE, Visiting Professor, Royal College of Art, London.

2001–2002 External examiner BA (Hons) Multimedia Course, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool.

2000–2002 Senior creative, AMX, London Interactive design, design for screen-based, digital and multi/interactive media, London.

1999–2000 Subject leader, Senior lecturer 0.6 FTE Graphic Design, MA (Hons) Communication Design programme. Dali short courses instructor: Easter 2000. Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design, UAL, London.

1998–1999 Visiting Lecturer, School of Arts and Letters, Department of Art and Design, Design Futures, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge.

1998–1998 Visiting Adjunct professor/Course leader, Graphic Design, Digital Imaging and introduction to design for the web media, Longwood University, Virginia, USA.

1995–1998 Partner, Herb, London Creative Consultants Limited, London.

1995–1998 Senior Lecturer, 0.4 FTE BA (Hons) Graphic Design, Yr2 (level 5) Tutor. Lecturer MA (Hons) Performance Sportswear Design, University of Derby, Derby.

1995–1995 Creative Director, Curious Design Consultants, London.

1994–1995 Lecturer 1.0 FTE BA (Hons) Graphic Design, Yr1 (level 4) Year Tutor, Erasmus/ international Graphic Design link tutor, University of Derby, Derby.

1993–1994 Visiting Lecturer, BA (Hons) Graphic Design, University of Derby, Derby.

1992–1993 Visiting Lecturer, Typography lecturer, BA (Hons) Advertising course, WKDA (William

De Kooning Academie) Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

1990–1992 Designer, Hard Werken, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

1988–1990 Head of Graphics, 20/20 (retail & interior design), London.

1987–1988 Creative Director and founder, The Big One, London.

1986–1987 Designer A.I.D, London.

1985–1986 Designer Y&R, London.

1984–1985 Designer The Tyrrell Design Company, London.

Research/knowledge transfer/outputs

2026 はちみつ – Honey, Yaho, Kunitachi City, Tokyo. Producer/Manufacturer: Hiroshi Murakami – NO TRUNKS (label design and promo).

2026 Chocolatta North, Japan – Spring - Summer collection, promo T-Shirt (pop-up event, Saijo City, Japan).

2026 Chocolatta North, Japan – website (creative/ art direction, design and content creation). https://chocolattanorth.info/

2026 Finisterre + KOBO A-B – Lived & Loved On Tour, BORO reparation workshop, Finisterre Brighton store, introducing participants to Japanese BORO-inspired approaches to textile repair, patching, visible mending and Sashiko stitching. 3-hour bookable session.

2025 KOBO A–B, BORO reparation workshops: 19 February 2025. Public workshops hosted by Garden House Brighton, introducing participants to Japanese BORO-inspired approaches to textile repair, patching, visible mending and Sashiko stitching. 3-hour bookable session.

2024 KOBO A–B, BORO reparation workshops: 24 February 2024, 15 June 2024. Public workshops hosted by Atelier Brighton, introducing participants to Japanese BORO-inspired approaches to textile repair, patching, visible mending and Sashiko stitching. 6-hour bookable session.

2024 Cultural Flows Between Japan and the West: The Ishibashi Foundation Lecture Series held between 2013 and 2018 (Japanese - English edition). SISJAC (Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures) with the Ishibashi Foundation, Japan (creative/ art direction and design).

2022 Iyagi new voices from Korea. Eight chapbooks from new Korean writers. “Iyagi is a unique collaboration between an international group of independent creative practitioners, with the University of East Anglia, the National Centre for Writing, and made possible by LTI Korea.” Design and layout: Knockoff Viagra and Jeje – Sang Young Park, Take My Voice – Serang Chung, Towards 0% – Seo Ije, Kyoko and Kyoji – Han Junghyun, The Greatest Gamble on Earth – Kwak Jaesik, Walk with a Goddess – Ji-Min Lee, Like a Barbie - Park Min-jung, For That Which Cannot Be Restored – Park Wanseo. ISBN: 978-1-91-386150-6 / 978-1-91- 386151-3 / 978-1-91-386152-0 / 978-1-91-386153-7 / 978-1-91-386154-4 / 978-1-91- 386155-1 / 978-1-91-386156-8 / 978-1-91-386157-5

2022 Fedrigoni 365 Edition: Volume 4, date: 23 November — no.23: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21,34, 55, 89, 144, 233, 377, 610, 687, 1597, 2584, 4181, 6765 … Fn = F n-1+ Fn-2 (Fibonacci sequence), (Contributor, design and layout).

2022 KOBO A–B, BORO reparation workshops: 16, January, 6, February, 6 March, 26 June, 24, July 2020, Public workshops hosted by Cinema City, introducing participants to Japanese BORO-inspired approaches to textile repair, patching, visible mending and Sashiko stitching. 6-hour bookable session.

2021 KOBO A–B, BORO reparation workshops at the Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures, 7 November 2021, 5 December 2021, Public workshops introducing participants to Japanese BORO-inspired approaches to textile repair, patching, visible mending and Sashiko stitching, 6-hour bookable session.

2021 KOBO A–B, BORO reparation workshops: 5, 7 December 2021, Public workshops introducing participants to Japanese BORO-inspired approaches to textile repair, patching, visible mending and Sashiko stitching. 6-hour bookable session.

2021 Cultural Flows Between Japan and the West: The Ishibashi Foundation Lecture Series held between 2013 and 2018 (English – Japanese edition). SISJAC (Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures) with the Ishibashi Foundation, Japan (creative/ art direction and design). ISBN: 978-1-9989929-0-4

2021 ‘Public Menace’ “The first anthologised edition of the Public Menace project, a poetry platform that seeks to encourage collaboration and build creative networks between writers outside of major cities”. A collection of feminist and LGBT street poetry for EGGBOX, UEA, a publishing project that works with students and pupils to widen participation in literature and open up the publishing industry. ISBN: 978-1-9138611-8-6

2021 Fedrigoni 365 Edition: 717/4,000, date: 1st – seed word: ‘Dot’ (Contributor, design and layout).

2020 KOBO A–B, BORO reparation workshops: 5, 19 March 2020, Public workshops introducing participants to Japanese BORO-inspired approaches to textile repair, patching, visible mending and Sashiko stitching. 3- and 6-hour bookable sessions.

2019 KOBO A–B, BORO reparation workshops: 5, 13, 18 August 2019. 01, 8 September 2019, Public workshops introducing participants to Japanese BORO-inspired approaches to textile repair, patching, visible mending and Sashiko stitching. 3- and 6-hour bookable sessions.

2019 Yeoyu: new voices from Korea. Eight chapbooks from new Korean writers. “Yeoyu is a unique collaboration between an international group of independent creative practitioners, with the University of East Anglia, Norwich University of the Arts, the National Centre for Writing, and made possible by LTI Korea.” Design and layout: Europa – Han Kang, Five Preludes & a Fugue – Cheon Heerahn, Kongs Garden – Hwang Jungeun, Left’s Right / Right’s Left – Han Yujoo. ISBN: 978-1-911343-58-5 / 978-1-911343-60-8 / 978-1-911343-62-2 / 978-1-911343-65-3

2017 Keshiki: new voices from Japan. Eight chapbooks from new Japanese writers, the Keshiki series, a collaboration between the University of East Anglia, Writers’ Centre Norwich, and Norwich University of the Arts, funded by The Nippon Foundation. Strangers Press, funded by the Nippon Foundation. Design and layout: Transparent Labyrinth – Keiichiro Hirano, At The Edge Of The Wood – Masatsugu Ono, Friendship For Grown Ups – Nao- Cola Yamazaki, and The Girl Who Is Getting Married – Aoko Matsuda. ISBN: 978-1911343080 / 978-1911343066 / 978-1911343028 / 978-1911343059

2016 No-intention issue 1: No quiet place, Demiurge & Gnosticism, exploring shamanism within the context of esoteric and mystical knowledge (Author, design and content creation). www.nigelaono-billson.co.uk/no-intention-1.html

2015 Aono-Billson, H (ed.) Granny squares, fleurs et autres formes : Plus de 110 modèles au crochet, Marabout, France. (Design and layout, plus supportive manuscript writing). ISBN: 978-2501090193

2013 Aono-Billson, H (ed.) La Petite Fabrique des Ours en Peluche, Marabout, France. (Design and layout, plus supportive manuscript writing). ISBN 978-2501-08179-5

2011 Ambrose, G. (ed.) Harris, P. (ed.) The Layout Book, 2nd Edition, (AVA) Bloomsbury Publishing. Aono-Billson. N. (ed.) (p.116– 117) Found, Shared - The magazine photo work, catalogue/booklet (Contributor). ISBN 978-2-940373-53-6

2011 Ambrose, G. (ed.) Harris, P. (ed.) Packaging the Brand: Exploring the Relationship between Packaging Design and Brand Identity. (AVA) Bloomsbury Publishing. (Aono-Billson. N. (ed.) (pp. 50– 51, 92– 93, 132– 133, 178– 179, 194–195, student exercises.) ISBN: 978-2-940411-41-2.

2010 Ambrose, G. (ed.) Aono-Billson, N. (ed.), Basics Graphic 01: Approach and Language. (AVA) Bloomsbury Publishing (Author, co-content creation, design and layout). ISBN 978-2-940411-35-1

2009 University of Derby, Visual Communication Research Group – Observatory Publication:

Holy Drinker: x3 works, inspired by the Smashing Pumpkins lyrics: That’s The Way (My Love Is) (ed.) Beige, Vermilion, Tangerine. University of Derby, Visual Communication Research Group, Observatory Publication (Contributor).

2012 Brittain, D. (ed.) Found, Shared – The magazine photo work: Righton Press (Design, promotional/publicity collateral and catalogue). ISBN 1-900756-31-5

2004 Gerber, A (ed.) ALL MESSED UP: UNPREDICTABLE GRAPHICS, Error Text. (p. 124), Laurence King Publishing and in the USA by Harper Collins (Contributor). ISBN: 185669-390-2

2003 Carter Magazine Issue #4, Sensucht (pp. 7– 8, 9–10) Australia. http://www.cartermagazine.com (Contributor).

2001 Flash interface Design: Creating Tool palettes, Ramirez, R., Shaw, O., (eds.) Macromedia Flash: Super Samurai, Macromedia Press/Peachpit Press (Flash interface Design: Creating Tool palettes) Biscuit Website, (pp. 277– 286). Macromedia Press/Peachpit Press (Contributor). ISBN 0-201-77144-6

2000 Kansai Airport 06.01.2000, ‘Teal Triggs, Sian Cook, Katie Salen (eds.) Zed.7: Public Private, (pp. 20–21) The Centre for Design Studies, Communication Arts and Design, Virginia, Commonwealth University, Virginia, USA (Contributor, article/author, design and layout). ISBN: 097154-448-4

2000 INTENSITIES Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design, UAL, London. (Site-specific: digital/video/sound installation works, including webcast).

1999 Open here: issue 0.01, it doesn’t matter if it's visual or it has content. Billson, N (ed.) Student-produced publication, the first in the series of publications from the MA Communication Design, Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design, London (Creative Direction, publication production).

1995 FEED YOUR HEAD New media conference on the future of new media and the web; speakers included Sean Cubitt & Sadie Plant. The University of Derby/Design Research Centre, University of Derby, Derby (Graphic and promotional/publicity Collateral).

1994 FIRST BOOK Artists Book project, international Art Institute cooperative project, The Design Research Centre, University of Derby, Derby (Contributor).

1994 DESIGNNET Transnational Design project, work at a distance, The Design Research Centre, University of Derby, Derby (Contributor).

1993 1993 Billson, N (ed.) Select works, Reclame 2, Unit publication, William De Kooning Academie, Rotterdam, The Netherlands (Creative Direction, publication production).

1993 Smile: A series of collaborative Fax works between designers and artists in the UK and internationally, London (Creative Direction, publication production).

Areas of research examine and explore the digital and physical, new futures and frontiers, universal design for intelligence, design systems for living and AI futures.

Research and practice keywords: creative direction, art direction, author/auteur, design writing; graphic communication, graphic design, image making, typography, motionography.

The ever-changing opportunities that exist within graphic design and visual communication, generative design systems convergent, and digital technologies. Specialisms covered include; design innovation, thinking, making, doing, engaging in multi-disciplinary approaches, redefining problems beyond predefined boundaries, creating solutions based on a new understanding of complex situations, fostering progressive, radical approaches and creative resolutions, using prototypes and archetypes, discovering new intuitive behaviours.