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Matthew Robertson – Bath Spa University

Personal Statement 

As Senior Lecturer in Graphics and Mixed Media, I teach fundamental principles of graphic art, collage, lettering, publishing and both analogue/digital production methods. I am particularly interested in artist books, asemic writing, graphic scores, sequential art and small press publishing.

I began my career as a commercial designer in Australia working for a range of clients in the cultural sector. In 2004 I relocated to the UK to write and design ‘Factory Records: The Complete Graphic Album’ published by Thames & Hudson. This led to on-going design collaboration with Factory co-founder and renowned designer Peter Saville for clients including the City of Manchester, Joy Division/New Order, Tate Modern and Umbro. My work has appeared in publications including Creative Review, Form and Ray Gun, and my design writing in Arkitip, Eye and Sturgeon.

In recent years my practice has shifted towards experimental visual/sound poetics. Much of this work makes use of found materials, from litter discovered on streets to overheard conversations in public spaces. More recent work has involved the reduction of my own semantic writing to ascemic/abstracted language. My visual poetry has appeared in publications including the Journal of Artist Books, Pocket Litter, Sugar Mule and ToCall. I’ve also been invited to participate in visual/sound poetry events at the Phonos Foundation, Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona; Goldsmiths, University of London; and Instituto de Estudios Avanzados, University of Santiago de Chile.

Academic qualifications

  • BA (Hons) Visual Communication, University of Western Sydney.

Bath Spa employment

  • 2005-present.

Teaching specialism

  • Graphic Arts and Mixed Media including typography and publishing
  • Related software applications

Recent professional updating

Work in collaboration with Peter Saville Studio [UK] for clients including:

  • Design commissions for clients including Bath Spa University, Beshara Publications, English National Opera, Factory Benelux, Trinity Wharf Drawing Prize and Underground Lovers/Rubber Records. Plus work in collaboration with Peter Saville Studio.

Research and academic outputs

Go to ResearchSPAce

William points
book

Robertson, M (2019) William points. JAB.


Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize 2018 [designer]
book

Robertson, M (2018) Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize 2018 [designer]. Wunderkammer Press, Bath. ISBN 9780993551154


DRAWN [designer]
book

Robertson, M (2017) DRAWN [designer]. Wunderkammer Press, Bath. ISBN 9780993551130


A place in words: twenty-five years of creative writing at Bath Spa University [designer]
book

Robertson, M (2017) A place in words: twenty-five years of creative writing at Bath Spa University [designer]. Bath Spa University, Bath. ISBN 9781527207332


NOTES ONE - onos & nonos: an introduction to the book of onomasticons by dsh [designer]
book

Robertson, M (2016) NOTES ONE - onos & nonos: an introduction to the book of onomasticons by dsh [designer]. South Street Publications, London.


fragments: a visual poem
book

Robertson, M (2012) fragments: a visual poem. Writers Forum, London. ISBN 9871842548998


Factory Records: the complete graphic album
book

Robertson, M (2007) Factory Records: the complete graphic album. Thames and Hudson, London. ISBN 9780500286364


‘Log 10.18 1’ & ‘Log 08.18 1’
book_section

Robertson, M (2018) '‘Log 10.18 1’ & ‘Log 08.18 1’.' In: Pujol Durán, J, ed. Antología bilingüe PO-EX. G0 Ediciones, pp. 149-150.


Untitled
article

Robertson, M (2019) 'Untitled.' ToCall, 4.


Victor reversed' & 'Untitled' & 'A rattling blue bus
article

Robertson, M (2018) 'Victor reversed' & 'Untitled' & 'A rattling blue bus.' Pocket Litter, Aug.


Transcript' & '73
article

Robertson, M (2017) 'Transcript' & '73.' Pocket Litter, Dec.


Score 11.15_1' & 'Score 11.15_2
article

Robertson, M (2016) 'Score 11.15_1' & 'Score 11.15_2.' Pocket Litter, May.


Focal length: the place of Australian graphic design in an international discourse
article

Robertson, M (2014) 'Focal length: the place of Australian graphic design in an international discourse.' Sturgeon: Australian Art, Culture, Etc., 2. pp. 38-41.


Topo-typo & Numeral
article

Robertson, M (2011) 'Topo-typo & Numeral.' Pocket Litter (3).


Peter Saville essay
article

Robertson, M (2008) 'Peter Saville essay.' Arkitip (49).


Session chair
conference_item

Robertson, M (2017) Session chair. In: Making Beyond Words – Intersections between Text, Image, Display: Celebrating 50 Years of Concrete Poetry, 16 - 17 June 2017, Bath Spa University, Corsham, UK.


BLURT [poster], RMT Productions, UK
artefact

Robertson, M (2019) BLURT [poster], RMT Productions, UK.


Underground Lovers: A Left Turn [album cover design], Rubber Records, Australia
artefact

Robertson, M (2019) Underground Lovers: A Left Turn [album cover design], Rubber Records, Australia.


Underground Lovers: Rushall Station [album cover design], Rubber Records, Australia
artefact

Robertson, M (2018) Underground Lovers: Rushall Station [album cover design], Rubber Records, Australia.


Underground Lovers: Staring At You Staring At Me [album cover design], Rubber Records, Australia
artefact

Robertson, M (2017) Underground Lovers: Staring At You Staring At Me [album cover design], Rubber Records, Australia.


The Tall Grass: Down the Unmarked Road [album cover design], The Tall Grass, Australia
artefact

Robertson, M (2017) The Tall Grass: Down the Unmarked Road [album cover design], The Tall Grass, Australia.


New Order Presents Be Music [album cover design], Factory Benelux, UK
artefact

Robertson, M (2017) New Order Presents Be Music [album cover design], Factory Benelux, UK.


Dave Graney, Clare Moore, Malcolm Ross… [poster], Cockaigne Records, Australia
artefact

Robertson, M (2017) Dave Graney, Clare Moore, Malcolm Ross… [poster], Cockaigne Records, Australia.


Vincey Presents: Everything was Singing… Everything [album cover design], Rubber Records, Australia
artefact

Robertson, M (2016) Vincey Presents: Everything was Singing… Everything [album cover design], Rubber Records, Australia.


Multicolour TM [product range], Tate Modern, UK
artefact

Robertson, M and Saville, P (2016) Multicolour TM [product range], Tate Modern, UK.


Joy Division: Unknown Pleasures [Christmas card] Oxfam, UK
artefact

Robertson, M and Saville, P (2016) Joy Division: Unknown Pleasures [Christmas card] Oxfam, UK.


Underground Lovers: Can For Now [digital single design], Rubber Records, Australia
artefact

Robertson, M (2015) Underground Lovers: Can For Now [digital single design], Rubber Records, Australia.


Mike Garry & Joe Duddell: St Anthony: An Ode to Anthony H Wilson [single cover design], Skinny Dog, UK
artefact

Robertson, M (2015) Mike Garry & Joe Duddell: St Anthony: An Ode to Anthony H Wilson [single cover design], Skinny Dog, UK.


Log (August) [2018]
exhibition

Robertson, M (2019) Log (August) [2018]. In: A Share of the Future, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing, China, 2019.


Making Beyond Words [programme designer]
exhibition

Robertson, M (2017) Making Beyond Words [programme designer]. In: Making Beyond Words – Intersections between Text, Image, Display: Celebrating 50 Years of Concrete Poetry, Bath Spa University, Corsham, UK, 16 - 17 June 2017.


[In]voices [2013] & Directory [2015]
exhibition

Robertson, M (2017) [In]voices [2013] & Directory [2015]. In: Making Beyond Words: Intersections Between Text, Image and Display, Bath Spa University, Corsham, UK, 16 -17 June 2017.


No Aorid
exhibition

Robertson, M (2014) No Aorid. In: It Was Amazing, 44AD Artspace, Bath, UK, 24 - 30 May 2014.


Bronchodilator' & 'Directory' & 'ire WA vaa' & 'Log
performance

Robertson, M (2019) Bronchodilator' & 'Directory' & 'ire WA vaa' & 'Log. In: PO–EX Simposio Internacional de Poesía Experimental, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile, 2 - 5 January 2019.


Residuuum
performance

Robertson, M (2016) Residuuum. In: Vocal Vertebra BCN, Universidad Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain, 5 October 2016.


BRtoBA
performance

Robertson, M (2016) BRtoBA. In: The Enemies Project: The South West Poetry Tour, Bath Royal Literary & Scientific Institution, Bath, UK, 6 August 2016.


Score 11.15
performance

Robertson, M and Fontaine, G (2016) Score 11.15. In: Vocal Vertebra #2 : an Evening of Sound Poetry Performances, Goldsmiths, University of London, UK, 12 May 2016.


ess/ata/tte
performance

Robertson, M, Upton, L and Apak, A (2012) ess/ata/tte. Writers Forum Workshop, 5 May 2012.


Eventure playground [book review]
other

Robertson, M (2017) Eventure playground [book review]. Eye: The International Review of Graphic Design, 93 (24).


The Magic Flute [online learning resource], English National Opera, UK
other

Robertson, M (2016) The Magic Flute [online learning resource], English National Opera, UK.


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