- Doctor of Philosophy, 2014 - 2020
Birmingham City University
- PGCert Research Practice, 2012 - 2013
Birmingham City University
- PGCert Education, 2009-2010
Birmingham City University
- Master of Fine Arts, 1992-1994
School of the Art Institute of Chicago, USA
- BA (Hons) Three Dimensional Design, 1989-1992
Manchester Metro University
- Art Foundation, 1988 -1989
Shrewsbury College of Arts and Technology
Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA)
Society of British Theatre Designers (SBTD) – Corporate
Lara has previously taught on MA Scenography and is currently teaching on the Level 5 BA Art and Design course in the School of Art.
2014-2020 - PhD study.
Beyond Discipline: Positioning Design Practice and Education for the Twenty-First Century.
Second Supervisor to Rebecca Skeels, Institute of Jewellery, Fashion and Textiles, BCU. Rebecca’s study explores ‘Sustainable Jewellery Practice: The Transition from Jewellery Higher Education to Sustainable Jewellery Practitioner.’ Supervision due to start February 2021.
Publications
Furniss, L. (2020)Beyond Discipline: Positioning Design Practice and Education for the Twenty-First Century. BCU. Thesis Pending Publication.
Furniss, L. (2020)Beyond Discipline: Evolving Design Practice and Design Education in the 21st Century. Submitted to AMPS SIP Volume 18, UCL Press. Pending Publication.
Furniss, L. (2016)The problem with design education. Creative Review. Available at: https://www.creativereview.co.uk/the-problem-with-design-education/
Furniss, L. (2016)What does it mean to be a designer today? Design Week. Available at: https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/15-21-february-2016/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-designer-today.
Furniss, L. (2015) Beyond Discipline: Design Practice and Design Education in the 21st Century. Strategic Creativity Research Hub. Available at http://larafurniss.co.uk/Research.
Furniss, L. (2012) Watching the Sunset with Einstein on the Beach. Blue Pages – Journal for the Society of British Theatre Designers. July 2012.
Conference Presentations
AMPS – Education, Design and Practice – Understanding skills in a Complex World, Stevens Institute, New York, June 2019.
Paper Presentation: Beyond Discipline: Evolving Design Practice and Design Education in the
21st Century.
Beyond Discipline, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, January 2018.
Role: Key note speaker
Presentation: Beyond Discipline
Beyond Discipline Symposium, London, July 2017.
Role: Symposium organiser and Keynote speaker
Presentation: Beyond Discipline: Design Practice and Design Education in the 21st Century
CHEAD Annual Membership and Networking Event – The Future of Teaching and Learning in ADM HE, London, May 2016.
Presentation: Beyond Discipline: Design Practice and Design Education in the 21st Century.
Lara has worked within a wide range of design studios, as well as running her own studio and working as a freelance designer. Projects range from experimental devised theatre to multi-million pound events. Studios include Imagination, Event Communications and DEGW Architects. Clients include The Imperial War Museum, V&A Museum, The Field Museum (Chicago), Eureka! Children’s Museum, Ten Chimneys Foundation (Wisconsin), Ericsson, Barclays, BBC, Coca Cola, Schweppes and Grosvenor Estate Holdings.
Award-winning and high profile projects include: ‘The Half - Photographs of Actors by Simon Annand’ for The Theatre Museum (V&A Museum) awarded ‘Best Exhibition on a Limited Budget’ at the Museums & Heritage Awards in 2006, and ‘Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne: A Life on Stage’ at the Ten Chimneys Foundation awarded National Historic Landmark status.
Alongside her commercial design work, Lara has designed over 20 theatre productions. Starting as resident designer for Cook County Theatre Department in Chicago, Lara has gone on to design in a wide range of theatres including The Performing Garage (New York), The Goodman Theatre (Chicago), Chapter Arts (Cardiff), Battersea Arts Centre and The Gate (London).
In 2000 Lara was nominated for an Arts Foundation Fellowship in Theatre Design by Simon McBurney.
