Helen Nowell

Helen is a part-time University Teacher in Graphic Design. As well as tutoring at Loughborough, Helen works as a freelance illustrator, designer and art teacher. Within her freelance practice Helen has worked for clients within the UK, Australia, mainland Europe and America. Her work includes book cover design, online game design, illustrations for magazines, visual merchandise and greetings cards. Her greetings card range has been sold in Waterstones, the Medici Gallery and Nottingham Tourism Centre.

Prior to working at Loughborough University, Helen has been employed as a graphic designer and has worked as a fashion photography assistant.

Helen enjoys teaching a range of different work groups and has run workshops for architects, private businesses and at Hayward House Hospice as part of her freelance teaching.

Helen is a Senior Fellow in Higher Education. She has also previously completed the Fellowship Programme under the REP system and Associate Teaching Pathway course under the LUPE system at Loughborough University.

Currently Helen tutors on the following modules on the Undergraduate and Postgraduate Programmes and is the Placement Lead for Graphic Design:

• ACA140 – Graphic Design Context (20 credits).
• ACA142 – Visual Thinking (10 credits).
• ACA143 – Visual Practices (20 credits)
• ACB208 – Character Design (10 credits)
• ACC112 – Industrial Report (30 credits) - Module Leader.
• ACC360 – Pre-collection, Prototyping and Conceptual Development (30 credits)
• ACP208 – Specialist Project Materials and Processes (15 credits)

Helen also has experience tutoring on the following modules:

• ACA141 – Type & Language (20 credits).
• ACA801 – Visual Thinking in Practice (40 credits)
• ACA802 – Visual Methods in Practice (40 credits) - Module Leader
• ACB803 - Content and Context: Society, Culture and Economy (40 credits).
• ACB804 – Interpreting Environments and Audiences (40 credits).
• ACC808 – Industrial Intelligence in Graphic Communication and Illustration (20 credits).
• ACC810 – Destinations in Graphic Communication and Illustration (60 credits)

Helen has taught on the Art & Design Foundation Course at Loughborough as well as at Nottingham Trent’s International College. Helen has received the following teaching accolades:

• Teaching Best Practice: Award Winner 2025
• Vice-Chancellor’s Award Winner for Enhancing the Student Experience
• Athena Swan Extra Mile Inspirational Leadership Award: Winner in the SDCA
• Teaching Best Practice: Highly Commended in Loughborough University 2020
• Athena Swan Extra Mile Team Award: Winner (Art & Design Foundation Course), under the Programme Direction of Paula Gamble-Schwarz, in the SDCA

Outside of FE and HE teaching Helen runs art and design workshops at a variety of different art establishments, galleries and locations.

Helen has run several projects for students that encourage them to utilise their skills in real life settings to serve their communities and create impact.

The anti-knife campaign project, that Helen launched, has been featured within ‘Fighting Knife Crime London’s’ online magazine: Issue 14: pages 27-36). Niall Corcoran’s work also features on the cover. From the project, Dan Hatfield’s #PatchTheSlash campaign won a Creative Conscience Award.