Aysar Ghassan

Aysar attained a degree in Anthropology from University College London before completing an MA in Automotive Design at Coventry University 2002. After gaining valuable professional experience as an automotive designer at Alfa Romeo, Mitsubishi and Design-a-Storz, in 2005 Aysar began teaching Transport Design and Industrial Design at Northumbria University. In 2013 he returned to Coventry University to teach and conduct research. He currently leads the MA in Automotive & Transport Design.

In his PhD, Aysar conducted a discourse analysis of Design Thinking research. The thesis represents the first sustained attempt at critiquing this highly influential concept using methods which are specifically designed for investigating ways of speaking (in this case, corpus linguistics and content analysis). Aysar's critical lens is influenced by the philosopher Gilles Deleuze and the psychotherapist and semiotician Felix Guattari’s notions of Royal Science and Minor Science.

Aysar’s pedagogical research has included providing students with opportunities to participate in Web- enabled learning activities with peers based in a host of international universities. This research explores student-led methods of augmenting the master-apprentice system in design education, for example through peer learning and effective narration. This research also explores cultural difference in design education as well as the construction of professional identities in design.

As well as disseminating his research in international journals, as book chapters and at conferences, Aysar writes design-focussed journalistic articles, most recently for Artsthread. These articles are designed to make his research more accessible to students and recent gradautes. Aysar has reviewed papers for conferences including: DRS 2012; DRS//Cumulus, 2013 and 2011; CHI 2013; DMI: ADMC 2014.

In addition to teaching studio skills such as sketching and clay modelling, Aysar recognises the need to broaden the design curriculum to prepare students for the global nature of contemporary design practice and the wider knowledge economy. In view of this, Aysar teaches interdisciplnary skills such as ideation, research methods and contextual issues.

Aysar incorporates student-led teaching, incrporating peer-tutoring and regular opportunities for discussions to increase the confidence of students, preparing them for professional working life.