Helen Darnell

Helen Darnell is a Senior Lecturer in Interior Design at the Manchester School of Art, Manchester Metropolitan University. With over 10 years of professional experience in commercial interior design specializing in workplace, retail, and hospitality sectors, she transitioned to academia to share her expertise. She currently leads the BA(Hons) Interior Design programme's Graduate Outcomes, Placements, and Overseas Study initiatives, fostering industry connections to enhance student opportunities. As an Innovation Scholar collaborating with Claire Norcross, she co-leads a Professional Pathway project aimed at supporting students' employability and career development, particularly for those with lower social capital.

• Key Responsibilities: Programme leadership, industry collaboration, student career pathway development
• Teaching Focus: Design detailing (junctions, materials, furniture), concept narratives, and spatial poetics

Her research emphasizes the interplay between technical design elements and conceptual storytelling in interior environments. The Professional Pathway project reflects her commitment to equitable access to creative career opportunities through mentorship and industry partnerships.