School staff
Professor Eddie Norman
Professor
Tel +44 (0)1509 222659
Email E.W.Norman@lboro.ac.uk
Location LDS 1.100 / 2.107
Personal profile
Eddie Norman is Professor of Design Education, Leader of the Design Education Research Group (DERG) and Chief Editor of Design and Technology Education: an International Journal.
He graduated from Magdalen College, Oxford in 1973 with a BA in Engineering Science and Economics and completed a PGCE at Oxford University's Department of Educational Studies the following year. He completed an MSc in Welding Technology at Cranfield University in 1978 and went on to work as a Research Engineer, becoming a full member of The Welding Institute in 1981.
His PhD was awarded by Loughborough University in 2002 in recognition of published work concerning The technological knowledge base of design and associated pedagogical issues.
Eddie Norman has extensive teaching experience. He taught in secondary schools for 8 years and joined Loughborough University as a Lecturer in 1984. He has taught on both the Industrial Design and Technology and the 'with Education' programmes; in particular design education and contexts, mechanics, materials and sustainable design.
In 1990, he collaborated with three other authors to produce the first A-level textbook for Design and Technology, Advanced Design and Technology.
Beyond Design and Technology education, his research concerning the development of the polymer acoustic guitar is well known. In 2001 he was awarded a NESTA Invention and Innovation Fellowship, and (jointly with Dr Owain Pedgley) a HEROBC Innovation and Regional Fellowship in July 2002, a Gatsby Innovation Fellowship in January 2003 and a Lachesis Fund Award in May 2004 in order to pursue its development.
The branded venture Cool Acoustics was formed in 2003. The first prototype all-polymer acoustic guitars were launched at the Frankfurt Musikmesse in March 2002.
Eddie Norman has over 100 publications associated with this work which has been awarded grants totalling approximately £200,000.
Teaching
- DSA003 Design Contexts
- DSA006 Prototyping for Design
- DSC024 Issues in Design Education
- DSC026 Final Year Design Practice
- DSC021 Dissertations
- DSP863 Major Project Research and Feasibility
Research
Design and technology in general education (particularly at 16+), sustainable design education, technology and industrial design education as a member of the DERG (Design Education Research Group), and musical instrument design (guitars and instruments for music therapy) as a contribution to the DPRG (Design Practice Research Group).
For guitar research, visit coolacoustics.com. For instruments for music therapy, visit musical-research.org.uk.
Featured publications
- Norman E W L 'The nature of technology for design', International Journal of Technology and Design Education, 8(1), 1998, pp.67-87, ISSN 0957-7572.
- Norman E W L 'Action research concerning technology for design and associated pedagogy', Educational Action Research - an International Journal, 7(2), 1999, pp.297-308, ISSN 0965-0792.
- Norman E W L 'Developing a strong research base', Design and Technology Education: an International Journal, 10 (1), 2005, pp 8-25, ISBN 1360-1431.
- Norman E W L 'The Professor John Eggleston Memorial Lecture 2006: values, human judgement and sustainability in design and technology education, Design and Technology Education: an International Journal, 11(3), pp 11-34, ISSN 1360-1431.