Darren Aoki, John Kilburn & Victoria Squire

University of Plymouth

Thin Space: Illustrating the blurring of physical and spiritual worlds within the coastal parish of the Lyn Valley

Dr Darren Aoki is Associate Professor in World History and Oral History. Dr Aoki's specialisms are in the social and cultural history of modern Japan with a focus on gender and sexuality as it intersects with race and ethnicity. His PhD explored masculinity and same-sex desire in the post-war period in Japan. More recently, he has turned his attention to issues of identity in the trans-Pacific diaspora of Japanese. Through his research on Nikkei (people of Japanese descent), he has developed methodological and theoretical expertise, including in research, teaching, and community outreach, in oral history.

John Kilburn is a lecturer in Illustration and programme lead for MA Communication Design at the University of Plymouth. John is interested in the importance and potential of illustration research methods within collaborative and inter-disciplinary research including authorial and playful practice, graphic medicine, oral history, live-drawing, and pop-up books. John's research has led to many successful community-focused and inter-disciplinary projects working closely with colleagues from Health, History, Nursing and Environmental Science, and organisations and academic groups such as The Sustainable Eel Group, Clean Air Africa, and the NHS.

Victoria Squire is the Associate Head for Education and Student Experience within the School of Art, Design & Architecture, and lecturer on the BA (Hons) Graphic Design with Typography programme at the University of Plymouth. Her research explores the interface between graphic design and health. She is a co-chief editor of the international Design Behaviors research journal, United Designs Alliance, South Korea.