James Wrigley

James Wrigley

Design, Write & Code in Manchester, UK & Remote, He/Him

Contact

Threads
Instagram

Projects

Ongoing

A collection of super good links from across the internet. This project brings together some of the best links on design, visual communication, photography, digital culture and more, sharing articles, websites, tools and software to inform and inspire. Super~Goods is a completely open source project, from the code to the content, everything is freely available online. Powered by Are.na, you can choose to follow the channel, fork a copy of the site and create your own super good site to share your links and create your own version of this project, you can find the full code for this project over on GitHub. Super~Goods also has a newsletter, delivering the latest picks directly to your inbox, so if you prefer to keep updated that way, please consider joining.

Ongoing

Re-enter is an invitation to peek over my shoulder as I navigate the labyrinth of my own thoughts and processes, exploring everything from the esoteric to the everyday. This project is a personal odyssey, an attempt to become a more seasoned cartographer of my own mind. Exploring thoughts and ideas in visual communication, design, photography, digital culture, technology and more.

2024
Edit & Modify

An experimental and personal non-profit project dedicated to visual imagery and post-production. Edit & Modify is a growing collection of resources and lightweight image editing tools for photographers, designers and enthusiasts alike.

A continuing collection of personal Lightroom presets, produced to heavily reference and inspired by the characteristics of various stock films this personal collection aims to provide one of the most extensive free resources online built over years of play and experimentation with image editing and post-production, the entire collection of presets offers a range of different tones, styles and aesthetics, while some offer more subtle differences, other collections aim to be more dramatic. All downloadable and adjustable as XMP files for use in Lightroom and other image editing software, this archive will eventually house 100 presets per collection and include both XMP and LUT files for video, you can see the full roadmap for this project as I continue to grow and expand the collections.

Designed to be lightweight, stripped back and easy to use, the Edits app for iOS is a companion to your default camera app, allowing you to produce edits on the go without the clutter of social media or community features. This app aims to give you an easy, lightweight and professional mobile editing experience for images. Apply new and unique features not found in the collection, save and copy edits across multiple images and organise edits easily within the app. The current app will only be available on iOS and is currently in beta.

Work Experience

2023 — Now
Lecturer in Graphic Design (Visual Communication & Digital Cultures) at Manchester Metropolitan University
Manchester, UK

As a Lecturer in Graphic Design, with a specialised focus on Visual Communication and Digital Cultures. I teach across a range of subjects, software and design, blending my experience in photography, art direction, UX and UI, web development, publishing, editorial, branding and 3D design. In this role I create unique partnerships across the design embedding live projects into the curriculum, create dedicated teaching materials and resources. I am an ECR member and conduct research activities that also focus on my specialised areas of Visual Communication and Digital Cultures.

2022 — 2023
Lecturer in Visual Communication & Digital Cultures at Manchester Metropolitan University
Manchester, UK

Focused on visual communication and digital cultures, within this position I have taught across undergraduate and postgraduate students in Fashion Art Direction, Fashion Promotion and helped to lead the development in the teaching of design in Fashion Communication, creating dedicated teaching materials and resources for digital design skills in branding, editorial content, online-product and multi-channel design experiences.

2017 — 2022
Co-Director, Designer, Art Director and Project Manager at Public Source
Greater Manchester + London, UK

Designing and producing a range of printed independent publications, online archival and exhibition platforms and curated events and physical exhibitions focused on a wide range of themes and concepts in collaboration with photographers, leading practitioners and institutions from across the globe.

2017 — 2022
Co-Director, Designer, Art Director, Editor and Curator at Then There Was Us
Greater Manchester + London, UK

Designed a wide range of independent publications, lead the art direction and campaigns for the bi-annual issue, events, exhibitions and online platform. Managed and organised daily business needs and activities. In this position I interviewed practitioners from across the globe and written features covering events and social issues with a focus on technology, digital cultures, people and place.

2018 — 2022
Course Leader & Lecture of Graphic Design at Wigan & Leigh School for the Arts
Greater Manchester, UK

Developed industry relevant assessments and taught students at both HE & FE, embracing new and traditional industry practices and technologies, promoting skills in critical and rational thinking. Within this role I formed dedicated assignment structures to develop strong, industry connections focused on achieving experience outcomes. I supervised, marked, and examined projects, student written and practical work, provided support and guidance on academic and pastoral issues. As Personal Tutor, I guided students both within their studies and towards career development within design industries.

2018 — 2022
Lecturer of Photography at Wigan & Leigh School for the Arts
Greater Manchester, UK

Taught visual communication and photographic skills exploring historical contexts, contemporary practice and theory, promoting skills in critical and rational thinking in a range of genres from documentary, fashion, advertising and portraiture. I produced original materials and built course collaborations across industry leading clients contributing to the development of new programme proposals and the design of teaching art and design programmes more widely in the Faculty.

Education

2018 — 2019
PGCE (Post Graduate Certificate in Education) at UCLAN
Greater Manchester, UK
2021
Guest Lecture – Contemporary Publishing & Editorial at Salford University
Online, Remote
2021
Guest Lecture – Contextual Relationships in Publishing and Curation at University of Hertfordshire
Online, Remote
2020
Guest Lecture – Independent Publishing Startup Talks at Manchester Metropolitan University
Online, Remote
2019
Guest Lecture – Innovation & Technology in Education at University of Central Lancashire
Greater Manchester, UK
2019
Guest Lecture – Investigating Kinship at Manchester Metropolitan University
Manchester, UK
2017
Guest Lecture – Independent Magazines & Documentary Photography at Manchester Metropolitan University
Manchester, UK

Exhibitions

2019
Exhibited – 'Who I Was, What I've Become' Festival at Lithografeion Theatre
Patras, Greece
2018
Curated – And Then There Was: Design Exhibition at Fred Aldous Arts
Manchester, UK