Dr Marius Foley

Research/ Current projects

• PhD research: The Design Conversation: a dissonant and dialogic space

• Public Media Social Knowledge: Convener of a series of roundtable discussions leading to a proposal for a knowledge transfer consortium around contemporary media practice

• ABC POOL: Interaction research and redesign of a social and participatory media space

• Design Futures: emerging research group founding member

• Social Media Research Group: research founding member

• Villa Alba Curiosities: the museum as a design resource.

• The Island Project, in collaboration with Conservation Volunteers Australia

• Cross cultural communication design: Asian Pacific work integrated learning project

Marius develops experiential learning programs for students that address complex, real world communication issues. In most cases, students work with industry or community partners. The learning projects take place in the public space, which sharpens the performativity of the learning experience. Students, for example, define and design their identity to establish their professional presence.

In second semester Marius will conduct research into the studio teaching model and its relevance to future practice in the creative industries. This includes an investigation of the power relations in the studio between students, educators, client and external expertise providers; and assessment strategies for innovation.

Key interests include:

• The Design Conversation: research into communication in design

• ABC POOL: developing a social media network for creative practice, in conjunction with ABC Radio National

• Creative consortia and online communities: building and maintaining institutional and community networks of practitioners

• Contemporary publication design

• Enhancing the international student experience

• Collaborative and multidisciplinary educational strategies 

Teaching research

Third year Professional Practice, Communication Design, including:

• Work integrated learning

• Professional development and building a design profile

• Interaction with practitioners

• Master of Creative Art (Research), High Fidelity Image: tracing the emergence of a new constructed image, University of Wollongong, 2004

• 2006–present   RMIT University

• 2000–2006   University of Wollongong NSW

• 1983–present   Marius Foley Media, Melbourne, Stanwell Park

• 1979–83   Backyard Press, Champion Books Melbourne

Professional interests

• Communication in design practice

• Knowledge commons in media and design

• Designing media spaces

• Creative consortia: building and maintaining institutional and community networks of practitioners

• Contemporary publication design

• Co-creative and multidisciplinary education strategies

• Experiential education frameworks in global media and design practice

• 2010   LTIF: Future Makers Future Markets, educational research into social media practice

• 2011   Salford Champion – liaison with Salford University and MediaCityUK

• 2012   Convenor, Public Media Social Knowledge on knowledge transfer in public media

• 2012   Partnership management for Communication Design Program

• 2012   Co-lead, Global Practice Study Tour, UK

Grants and awards

• ABC Roundtables Public Media Social Knowledge: Media and Communication R&I Visiting Scholar Grant, 2010–2011

• Learning and Teaching Innovation Fund (LTIF): Future Makers Future Markets, social media in media education (a forward looking work integrated learning project, 2010

• ABC POOL redesign: ACID [Australian Centre for Interaction Design] review and design proposition: project leader, 2009

• Foley , M., Bunt, B., Schiemer, G., University Research Council, University of Wollongong Internal Research Grants, 2007–2008: ‘ABC Exchange Feasibility Study: a partnership between ABC Radio National, UOW and UTS 

Conference and workshop presentations

Foley, M., ‘Co-creation as a model for independent participatory experiences’, Collaboration in Experimental Design Research Symposium, RED Objects, COFA Sydney, 2011

Foley, M., Listening through interaction, The Social Not the Medium is the Message | workshop, University of Massachusetts Boston April 2011

Foley, M. ‘Future Makers Future Markets’ in panel presentation, Screen Futures, ATOM, Melbourne 2011

Foley, M., ‘Future Makers Future Markets’, LTIF Expo, 2011

Foley, M., Panel member 'Educating the next generation of design thinkers', with Steve Heller and Lita Talarico, New York School of Visual Arts, Sue Bennet, UOW

Foley, M., Ellmers, G., 2007, ‘Introducing reflective strategies informed by problem-based learning, to enhance cognitive participation and knowledge transference in graphic design education’, ConnectEd Design Conference Presentation, Sydney 2007 (referred)