The Visual Libraries Project – a collaborative visual project that examines the creative use of sketchbooks in public libraries.

There are currently over 300 sketchbooks placed across libraries in Portsmouth. These can be booked and signed out as you would with any other library book. Each has it’s own theme ranging from ‘When I open my eyes’, ‘I am beautiful’, ‘Monday Morning’ and ‘Portsmouth, My City’.

The project is also running in Forsyth County Library, North Carolina, US and will be launched in August in Chennai, India.

The project is run by Dr Maureen O’Neill and Claire Sambrook from The University of Portsmouth, UK.

DR MAUREEN ONEILL
Full time senior lecturer on the Illustration BA (HONS) – Head of level 3

Research
Completion of PhD for RAE assessment purposes May 2007

http://www.mappassion.com/intro/intro.htm

(Publication: Type, text and the map, TypoGraphic 63/ The Journal of the International Society of Typographic designers ISSN0143 7623)

(Visual work used for conference: Thinking inside the box, interiors forum Scotland. March, 2007)

Curator, designer and member of The Centre for Images in Practice, (with Dr Jackie Batey) international internet project exchange and research site has collaborated with: Univerisdad Iberoamericana and The British Council, Mexico City, Mexico: University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia: UIAT, Helsinki, Finland.

http://www.envf.port.ac.uk/illustration/images/

(Curator of exhibition of student work for the opening of the new British Council offices in Mexico City)

Curator and designer, collaborating with Dr Jackie Batey, of a themed research web and gallery space The Visual Language of Number linked to Images in Practice.

http://www.envf.port.ac.uk/illustration/number.htm

(Presentation at the Circus conference in Dublin on conducting and disseminating collaborative research and article for ‘Outline 8” CTIAD)

The ImageXchange is a research project by Maureen O’Neill and Dr Jackie Batey that aims to examine cross-cultural issues through student illustrative projects, encouraging shared knowledge with other international institutions. International collaborations: Univerisdad Iberoamericana and The British Council, Mexico City, Mexico: UiTM MARA and the Alif Creative Academy, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A new project in 2008 linking with the Korean Women’s’ University in Seoul is planned.

http://www.envf.port.ac.uk/illustration/mexico/index.htm

http://www.envf.port.ac.uk/illustration/images/routine/index.htm

(Presentation to research staff at UiTM about web based international projects and links. External examiner for final year student project work at Alif Creative Academy.)

Claire Sambrook

A creative background and proven record of achievement and passionate attitude. Being based in London in the 80’s enabled a thorough understanding of media and design whilst working with leading photographers and image makers.  A wealth of experience was gained in advertising and BBC TV.  Freelance photography and voluntary teaching for 3 years before working with My-Reputation.Com – Image consultants with clients such as U2, Prince and Frank Zappa’s Estate

Senior Lecturer, University of Portsmouth, UK. Working in a growing creative technology department with responsibility for student and department promotion, industry liaison and collaboration, careers, Video Podcasting, marketing, and global outreach. Developed active collaborations with prestigious organisations in India, China, India, Malaysia and Boston. Worked with Industry partners to ensure that students are graduating with the relevant skill set and ‘real world’ experience. Responsible for The Long, Long Corridor – a gallery and concept shop space for students in Eldon Building.

Represents the university on the following boards/organisations:

Portsmouth South Coast Design Forum, Design & Heritage Champion (Portsmouth City Council), Southsea Skatepark and Strong Island Blog.

PROJECTS

1. Visual Libraries –
   Since March 2009 Portsmouth Library Service has been part of a city wide collaborative project that offers library members to ‘leave their mark’ in over 250 journals. Phase 2 includes delivery of workshops to community groups to include : Vision Impaired, Prison Services, MIND, Housebound and the Women’s Refuge. Collaboration with local schools and community centres will form part of the Find Your Talent Bid. A BBC Cameraman has helped to film a documentary which includes interviews with the participants.  Funding to be spent on materials, promotion, workshops and a Student Research Assistant. The Creative Campus funding has been secured for international link up with The British Council Library in India and Little Flower Convent for the blind in Chennai, India (Tactile Books) and Forsyth Library in North Carolina, US.
   The main benefits to the university include involvement from our students in helping to run these workshops and link with local community groups.  We have also worked well with these community groups (Portsmouth MIND, Harbour School) to raise aspirations by inviting them into the university for feedback and further workshops. Exploration of creativity and collaboration are also key along with highlighting the importance of libraries as a central resource to the city and it’s population. http://www.visuallibraries.com/
   We have also gained publicity for the university with this project – featured on BBC Radio Solent, International features and interviews online and an article with the UK’s leading library journal.
2. Southsea Deck Your Chairs – http://www.southseadeckyourchairs.tk/
   25 Deckchairs customised by local artists and designers including students were exhibited around the City of Portsmouth, UK over August/September 2009. Popping up in unexpected places and available to buy for an limited time only. People were able to follow the touring exhibition as it unfolded and asked to take photographs and follow their favourite design. Samples of the Deckchairs were seen in Knight & Lee, Debenhams in Southsea, Cascades Shopping Centre, Aspex Gallery, Bellamy’s Antiques, Garbo’s and Hilsea Lido. Most of the deckchairs have now been sold and the remaining ones can currently be seen at Portsmouth Museum. You can buy the book at – http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/915045 | See the Video – http://www.vimeo.com/7680364 . The Flickr Group will enable you to see the development of each design and also see photographs of the Deckchairs around the city. http://www.flickr.com/groups/deckyourchairs/
   This project was an enormous success in terms of publicity for the university and the city. Live radio interviews, local/national/international press coverage enabled each artist to get their work seen by a large amount of people. Close collaboration with a number of local businesses included BBC South, Southsea Deckchairs Ltd, Portsmouth City Council, Debenhams, John Lewis, Garbo’s, Bellamy’s and Bored of Southsea Skateshop.
3. Portsmouth City Council Bike Stand Competition – http://www.flickr.com/groups/bikestands/ University students worked with Portsmouth City Council and Wayne Hemingway from Hemingway Design to create bike stands to be used throughout the city. Bike Off and the Design Against Crime Lab at Central Saint Martin’s offered support and talked to the interior design students about the importance of bike safety and offered advice on how to design the stands for maximum use. Six designs were chosen and are currently being manufactured by local companies. These will be launched across the city in various locations in April 2010. The client, Portsmouth City Council have been very impressed with the quality of designs overall with some of the students being offered contracts with local manufacturers to sell their work outside the city. The project has enabled these students to have their work showcased and given them additional business skills increasing their employability portfolios.
4. Love Your Bike Portsmouth – http://www.loveyourbikeportsmouth.co.uk/
   Bike culture is an important part of cycling and regaining the streets. Love Your Bike Portsmouth aimed to encourage participants to fully embrace the possibilities of connecting with their bikes and explore the many ways that they could improve it’s appearance and design. As part of a day event and showcase participants were offered the chance to ‘Customise their Bikes and in turn ‘Love Your Bike’. Demonstrations were staged by local and national artists and designers who offered sessions in customisation and collaboration. International designer Ben Wilson welded bikes at the skatepark and also showcased some of his work. There was a wide selection of bikes and accessories available for purchase to suit all budgets. Local artists, students and designers were involved in helping paint frames and customise bike parts. Student’s were involved in selling their work at the event with a cycling theme. A schools competition was launched with some workshops being run by our students.Love Your Bike Portsmouth is sponsored by The University of Portsmouth Creative Campus Initiative and Portsmouth City Council’s Health Town’s Initiative.

www.clairesambrook.tk – links to all projects and all Unit blogs.