Sue Breakell

Sue Breakell is a Principal Research Fellow and Archive Director at the University of Brighton Design Archives. She co-leads the Museums, Archives, Exhibitions strand within the Centre for Design History. Her work bridges critical archive studies and humanities disciplines, focusing on archival practices in visual arts contexts and their role in art and design history.

• PhD by Publication: Critical Archive Studies
• Expert in Visual Arts Archives
• Specializes in Materiality and Emigré Designer Archives

Her research explores the archive as both a product and site of creative practice, emphasizing embodied practitioner knowledge. Recent projects include examining the practices of émigré designers and materiality in visual arts archives. She supervises Masters and Doctorate projects utilizing archival resources in art and design research.

• Co-led Design Archives’ expansion
• Published extensively on archival theory
• Active in editorial and peer review roles

Breakell’s career spans major institutions like Tate Archive and Imperial War Museum. She brings practical experience to academic contexts, focusing on twentieth-century British art and design. Her work addresses evolving archival interfaces and stewardship challenges in contemporary culture.