Ari Chand

Dr. Ari Chand is a Lecturer in Illustration and Animation at UniSA Creative, University of South Australia. His expertise spans visual communication design, art education, and creative industries, with research focusing on sociological frameworks in design and the role of illustration in biodiversity, science, health, and heritage communication. He holds a PhD in Design and teaches courses in illustration practice, digital literacies, and conceptual thinking.

Education:

• PhD (Design), University of Newcastle
• Bachelor of Natural History Illustration (Hons Class I), University of Newcastle
• Bachelor of Fine Arts/Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary), University of Newcastle

Research Interests: Dr. Chand explores how illustration and design can transform communication across disciplines. His work bridges art and science through projects like Activating Artifacts (reviving Margaret Senior’s illustrations) and AI and Aspiration (student perceptions of creative futures). He advocates for inclusive design practices, such as dyslexia-friendly children’s books, and promotes creative career pathways for regional students.

Awards & Engagement:

• Emerging Scholar Award (2022)
• Advance HE Fellowship (2025)
• Invited judge for national/international illustration competitions
• Contributor to The Conversation (published in SBS News, Gizmodo, etc.)

Labs/Teams: Member of the Creative People, Products and Places Research Centre (CP3) and Board Member of the International Illustration Research Network. Collaborates on cross-disciplinary projects like Seeking Vision exhibition showcasing global illustration research.