Mark Roxburgh

Biography

"Graduating with a degree in visuals art, majoring in photography because he couldn't draw for diddley squat, Mark quickly realised that the life of an exhibiting artist was one of low recognition and lower income. Pounding the pavement for 6 months, hawking his folio to all and sundry, resulted in Mark receiving his first commission for the Good Weekend magazine. From there it was a fast rise to the dizzying heights of freelance photo image making in the world of editorial publication. His client list read like a who's of who of the publishing world: Rolling Stone, HQ, Juice, Harper Collins, Time, Allen and Unwin, the list goes on. Burnt out by the jet set lifestyle of the rich and famous after 4 years at the top, Mark sought refuge in the hallowed halls of academe where a life of the mind beckoned. Sadly he found a life of unending admin awaited, the boredom of which was relieved only by the joys of teaching and the occasional glimpse of research. Joining the illustrious Viscom program at UTS in 2000 he quickly organised a coup and installed himself as Director of Program, Viscom, in 2001. He was finally pried loose from the job in late 2005 and has become a valued member of the academic furniture since. Eschewing all management ambition he has finally begun to realise his dream of a life of the mind. He has managed to publish a growing body of papers on design and photography, almost finished his doctorate, and rediscovered his creative joy in photography and making music. Most recently he was poached by the canny crew at the University of Newcastle, where much to his surprise he was given the gig of Associate Professor of Design - seems like his research wasn't as marginal as he thought. He quickly established the Fun Team and decked out his office like a 70s bachelor pad. "

Research Interest

Design History and Theory, Visual Communication Design