PRojects
Rae Cooper works with commercial, government and private partners on projects that require innovative visual communication design solutions. These projects are often not well suited to commercial design studios or independent designers because of their complexity. Projects may include, but are not limited to:
the redesign of academic research ethics collateral to support the informed consent of research participants.
solutions for the presentation of complex data to meet the needs of specific audiences or user groups.
cultural approaches to visual communication or graphic design processes and outcomes.
All commercial projects are supported and facilitated by Griffith University Enterprise legal and finance teams.
About
Rae Cooper is a leading practitioner in the field of strategic visual communication design + culture + politics, with more than ten years of industry practice across both government and private sectors. She is a senior design lecturer at the Queensland College of Art & Design (QCAD), Griffith University and was awarded a doctorate in 2021.
Her ancestral connections to Worimi/Warrimay Country, Irish, English and Scottish settlers is a continually growing influence in her practice. This influence is evident across her work in the reimagining/redesign of research ethics and consent resources, Indigenous led research methodologies and contributions to the emergence of Cultural Protocols across mainstream design education. Collectively, this engagement contributes broadly to contemporary connection of Cultural identity, truth telling and the ongoing impact of colonisation, intertwined with white privilege.
Moving outside the traditional boundaries of the university campus, Rae Cooper is known for her engagement with communities across regional Queensland and supporting authentic initiatives across art and design practice. This work includes high school masterclass workshops, professional development for high school art and design teachers and work integrated learning opportunities that connect SEQ to industry projects across the state. She passionately advocates for the acknowledgment of excellence and potential that is overlooked by mainstream education systems.
Rae Cooper also leads international engagement for QCAD. In recent years, her focus was on supporting students through COVID19 travel restrictions, online learning and connections to trans-national student support. Looking to the future, this focus now includes increasing opportunities for domestic students to combine international travel experiences within their degree program, while engaging with QCAD's global community and partners.
QUALIFICATIONS
2021 Doctor of Visual Arts. Griffith University.
2012 GradDipEd. Middle Years, The Arts, Science and Technology.
2010 Master of Design Futures. Class I Honours.
2005 Bachelor of Product Design. Double major in 3D Design & Visual Culture.
HONOURS, AWARDS & OTHER GOOD THINGS
2024 Medical Research Future Fund - Preventive and Public Health Research, co-recipient(in collaboration with Associate Professor Yaqoot Fatima, Associate Professor Jasneek Chawla, Doctor Andrew Collaro, Doctor Azhar Hussain Potia, Doctor Bushra Nasir, Doctor Daniel Sullivan, Doctor Eng Joo Tan, Doctor Kai Wheeler, Doctor Priya Martin, Doctor Stephanie Yiallourou, Doctor Tracy Woodroffe, Doctor Victor Oguoma, Roslyn von Senden, Professor Cathrine Mihalopoulos, Professor Peter Eastwood, Professor Romola Bucks, Professor Timothy Skinner).
2024 Participant in the Paemanu: Awa Toi: Tīrewa Wānaka as part of the eleventh Asia Pacific Triennial cultural exchange project.
2024 Griffith University Research Accelerator Grant: “Re-discovering the Indigenous Design Process in the context of Mainstream Practices”.
2024 Participant: Alair Pambegan/Tony Albert Project with the Contemporary Australian Indigenous Art team.
2024 Creative Arts Research Institute panel speaker: Commercial research funding.
2024 Lead of the Queensland College of Art & Design’s inaugural internationalisation committee.
2023 Arts, Education & Law Research Excellence Awards, with the Remedy Project Team.
2023 Australian Research Council Discovery Indigenous Grant, in conjunction with Naomi Sunderland, Brydie-Leigh Bartleet, Phil Graham, Daren Garvey and Clint Brackell.
2023 Program Lead for QCAD Creative Futures Regional Queensland School Program.
2023 Poche Centre for Indigenous Health - University of Queensland, ethics design consultancy.
2023 Arts, Education & Law Research Excellence Award: Excellence of a Research Group or Team, The Remedy Project.
2023 Cairns Indigenous Art Fair participant. Work included in the Contemporary Australian Indigenous Art program exhibition: Past Present and Future.
2023 Co-Author of ‘Trauma aware & anti-oppressive arts-health & community arts practice. (International Society of Music Educators).
2023 Scholarship Assessor for the Carolyn Allport Scholarship.
2023 Co-author of ‘First Nations music as a determinant of health in Australia and Vanuatu: political and economic determinants (Health Promotion International).
2023 Delivery of QCA Art & Design School programs across regional Queensland.
2022 Collaboration with Aunty Marianne Wobcke, ‘Road Trip’ experience at QUT Big Anxiety Festival.
2022 Nominated for the Griffith University Internationalisation Award.
2022 Development and delivery of the first QCA Regional Art & Design School programs, across regional Queensland.
2022 QCA Regional Convenor role.
2022 Scholarship Assessor for the Carolyn Allport Scholarship.
2021 Scholarship Assessor for the Carolyn Allport Scholarship, offered annually by the National Tertiary Education Union National Office.
2021 Contemporary Arts Research Institute Leadership Committee. Early Career Researcher Representative.
2021 Indigenous Research Grant Awarded.
2020 Design and delivery of online alternative undergraduate and post graduate courses for students impacted by travel restrictions due to COVID19
2020 QCA International Convenor.
2020 QUT Guest Lecture: Protest Design
2019 Co-curator of the largest collection of women’s public art in Brisbane: ‘Women’s Work’. Supported by Brisbane City Council, Queensland College of Art and The Culprit Club.
2019 Women’s Work exhibition was featured in The Weekend Edition, F Magazine, BNE Art Guide, Concrete Playground, ABC News and Pedestrian.tv
2019 Interview - Global Citizen.
2019 ‘Six Hands’ street art installation in Fish Lane, South Bank, Brisbane.
2019 Nominated for the Griffith Award for Excellence in Teaching.
2018 Beijing Design Week. Outstanding Partnership Award in conjunction with the Australian Embassy and Australian exhibitors.
2018 Beijing Design Week Exhibitor, in conjunction with QCA Design Team
2018 Recipient of Arts, Education & Law Teaching and Development Grant
2018 Nominated for the Griffith Award for Excellence in Teaching
2018 QCA Honours Program, Assessment Chair & Student Supervisor
2018 QCA Masters of Interactive Media Program, Assessor
2018 CreateWorld Conference Organiser
2018 QCA College Committee Member - Academic Staff Representative
2018 UQ Guest Lecturer
2017 Griffith University Arts, Education & Law Three Minute Thesis Finalist
2017 QCA Masters of Visual Arts Program, Supervisor
2017 CreateWorld Conference Organiser
2017 QCA College Committee Member - Academic Staff Representative
2016 Speaker, CreateWorld Conference
2015 Accredited Mental Health First Aider
2015 Griffith Award for Excellence in Teaching, Highly Commended. Work Integrated Learning
2015 Adobe Certified Associate in Print & Digital Media Publication
2014 Spirit of the Gold Coast Media Award
2014 Presenter, Griffith Employability Symposium
2010 Class I Honours (Design Futures)
2010 Award for Academic Excellence
2009 Award for Academic Excellence
2009 High Commendation - National Cultural Precinct Architectural Competition