Jon Spruce FHEA
Programme Leader BA (Hons) Product Design
Jon lectures in product design at mmu with interests in human centred approaches to design innovation, the design process, and the visualisation of design ideas. Trained as an Industrial Designer Jon has commercial experience in the design and manufacture of products and furniture within the UK and globally.
As an academic, Jon is an internationally published researcher, with work focusing on how design education may be developed through increased dialogue between academics, the design industry, users of design services and consumers of design. Projects include leading multidisciplinary teams, engaging external organisations and stakeholder groups to connect design research, innovation, and teaching.
Jon has extensive experience in leading undergraduate design programmes and is an experienced course examiner, advising on curriculum development at institutions both nationally and internationally.
Follow Product Design on Instagram @msoa_product
The images below highlight recent student work and Jon's research projects.
Research
Jon Spruce is a member of the Design Research Hub.
Exhibitions
, 2024. Liverpool World Museum, Human Evolution Gallery.
Spruce, J., Duckett, R., 2016. Writing on the Wall Festival 2016 'Time Machine' installation, Liverpool City Centre locations, 2/5/2016 - 30/6/2016.
Spruce, J., Buckley, C., 2015. George Garrett Archive Exhibition, Liverpool Central Library, 2/5/2015.
Journal Articles
Spruce, J., Moriarty, S., Norcross, C., 2024. 'The post-COVID design studio: new tools, new rules?', Design Science.
Spruce, J., Moriarty, S., Thomas, P., 2021. 'From sharing screens to sharing spaces', Design and Technology Education, 26 (4), 15.
Spruce, J., 2021. 'Reflections on a Project Based Approach to Work Related Learning in Spatial Design', Design Principles and Practices, International Journal of Design Education, 15 (1), pp. 101-117.
Spruce, J., Evans, M., 2020. 'Transforming Learning Through User-Centered Design Research Methods', The American Journal of Art & Design, 5 (2), pp. 50-58.
Spruce, J., Kiernan, L., Douglas, M., 2020. 'Where Does Design Thinking Leave Design? Snapshots of a conversation with the design community', Iterations: Design Research & Practice Review, 8.
Conference Papers
Moriarty, S., Spruce, J., Mathai, S., 2023. 'Critical pedagogies for collaborative innovation', 25th International Conference on Engineering and Product Design Education, Elisava, Barcelona School of Design and Engineering, Spain, 7/9/2023 - 8/9/2023, in DS 123: Proceedings of the International Conference on Engineering and Product Design Education (E&PDE 2023).
Spruce, J., Moriarty, S., 2022. 'A slight return: developing an augmented design studio pedagogy', 24th International Conference on Engineering and Product Design Education, London South Bank University, London, UK, 8/9/2022 - 9/9/2022, in DS 117: Proceedings of the 24th International Conference on Engineering and Product Design Education (E&PDE 2022), London South Bank University in London, UK. 8th - 9th September 2022.
Roberts, E., Spruce, J., 2019. ''In-Progress Reporting: Development of China's Creative Economy Through Participatory Design Research in Post-Industrial Regeneration'', International Association of Societies of Design Research Conference 2019 (IASDR 2019), Manchester, UK, 2/9/2019 - 5/9/2019, in https://iasdr2019.org.
Spruce, J., Kiernan, L., Douglas, M., 2019. 'Design Thinking 2.0: examining perceptions & current practices in Design Thinking towards the development of an innovation framework', IASDR 2019, Manchester, UK, 2/9/2019 - 5/9/2019, in https://iasdr2019.org.
Spruce, J., douglas, M., kiernan, L., ryan, A.M., 2018. 'HAVE WE REACHED PEAK DESIGN THINKING? Are we entering a new paradigm for how it is used within practice and business?', Design Research Society Conference 2018, Design As A Catalyst For Change, Limerick, Ireland, 25/6/2018 - 28/6/2018, in http://www.drs2018limerick.org/participation/proceedings.
Spruce, J., Evans, M., 2013. 'Supplying the demand: Aligning product design curricula and the professional practice of design', Engineering & Product Design Education Conference, Design Education - Growing our Future, Dublin, Ireland, 5/9/2013 - 6/9/2013, in The Design Society, Institute of Engineering Designers.
Spruce, J., 2012. 'DEVELOPING THE DESIGN CURRICULUM', IE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2012, london, 28/3/2012 - 29/3/2012.
Spruce, J., Evans, M., 2012. 'Supplying The Demand (Conference Presentation)', in International Journal of Art & Design Education.
Spruce, J., evans, M., 2012. 'Working 9 to 5, what a way to make a living: Industry expectations of junior designers', EPDE 2012 Conference in Antwerp on 6 -7 September, antwerp, 6/9/2012 - 7/9/2012.
Spruce, J., 2011. 'An integrated approach to developing higher graduate skills in design education', LJMU LEARNING & TEACHING CONFERENCE 2011, liverpool, 14/6/2011 - 15/6/2011.
Spruce, J., 2011. 'AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO DEVELOPING HIGHER GRADUATE SKILLS IN DESIGN EDUCATION', INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ENGINEERING AND PRODUCT DESIGN EDUCATION, london, 8/9/2011 - 9/9/2011, in ENGINEERING AND PRODUCT DESIGN EDUCATION, pp. 373-378.
Spruce, J., evans, M., 2011. 'THE LEGACY OF DESIGN: WHAT CONTRIBUTION DOES A DEGREE MAKE TO YOUR FUTURE DESIGN CAREER?', INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ENGINEERING AND PRODUCT DESIGN EDUCATION, london, 8/9/2011 - 9/9/2011, in 13th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ENGINEERING AND PRODUCT DESIGN EDUCATION, pp. 385-390.
Spruce, J., 2010. 'Developing integrated approaches towards higher graduate skills in design education', The International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning conference (ISSOTL), Liverpool, UK, 19/10/2010 - 22/10/2010, in no.
Spruce, J., dunlop, D., 2010. 'Developing the Design Curriculum: A case study of student centred professional framework modules', Engineering & Product Design Education Conference, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway, 2/9/2010 - 3/9/2010, in yes, 1 (1), pp. 72-76.
Spruce, J., evans, M., 2009. 'Knowledge Networks: Collaboration between industry and academia in design', D2B2: International Design Management Symposium, Tsinghua, China, 24/4/2009 - 26/4/2009, in yes, 1 (1), pp. 427-435.
Spruce, J., Evans, M., 2008. 'Life after the party: Student experiences and graduate expectations', Engineering & Product Design Education Conference, Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, 4/9/2008 - 5/9/2008, in yes, 2, pp. 761-766.
Spruce, J., 2007. 'Examining the role of the studio environment within design education', Engineering & Product Design Education Conference, Shaping the Future, Newcastle, UK, 13/9/2007 - 14/9/2007, in the design society.
Spruce, J., Wilkie, T., 2007. 'The implementation of PDP within a practice based curriculum', Engineering & Product Design Education Conference, Shaping the Future, Newcastle, UK, 13/9/2007 - 14/9/2007, in the design society, institute of engineering designers.
Spruce, J., Evans, M., 2005. 'Knowledge Networks: Collaboration between industry & academia in design', Engineering & Product Design Education Conference, Crossing Design Boundaries, Edinburgh, 7/9/2005 - 10/9/2005.
Presentations
Gandy, R.J., Spruce, J., 2018. 'Celebrating Stan & Joe: Wellbeing benefits of celebrating heroes through Art'.
Other Outputs
Spruce, J., Guo, F., Roberts, E., 2024. 'Arts & Humanities Research Council Project: Development of China's Creative Economy Through Participatory Design Research in Post-Industrial Regeneration.'.
, 2024. 'Immersive Experiences'.