I’m a designer and researcher with experience in both academia and industry. I completed a Ph.D. in Creative Arts from the University of Brighton and a Master’s in Graphic Design from the University for the Creative Arts. My work has appeared in several respected journals, including The International Journal of Education Through Art. I've been on the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Literature and Arts and a Fellow at the British Higher Education Academy since 2018.
My artwork has been exhibited in various countries like the USA, Spain, Portugal, Germany, UK, Italy, Canada, France, and the UAE. I've been teaching since 2007, working at universities across Europe, the UK, and the Middle East. I've also held leadership roles, including at SintLucas College in the Netherlands and the University of Northampton in the UK. Some of my students have achieved significant success, including top awards at The International Creative Conscience Awards in 2023 and in 2024.
I currently teach as an Assistant Professor in Visual Communications at the University of Sharjah. I founded the @Arabic_graphicdesign platform to reflect current trends in Arabic design and culture. Recently, I've been focusing on blending Arabic typography with other languages through projects like "Seoul Speaks Arabic" in South Korea and my exhibition at the 60th Venice Biennale - Italy. My current research explores ways of contemporizing Semitic ancient scripts.
Education
2018: Fellowship at The Higher Education Academy - UK
2018: Postgraduate Certificate in Research Degree Supervision, University of Northampton - UK
2016: Ph.D. in Creative Arts: Moving Image, University of Brighton - UK
2011: Master of Arts: Graphic Design, University for the Creative Arts - UK
2007: First Class (Hons) Bachelor of Arts: Visual Communication, University of Damascus - Syria
Academic Experience
Aug 2023 - present: Assistant Professor in Visual Communication - University of Sharjah - UAE
Nov 2022 - present: Academic Reviewer in Qeios - Publishing Platform for Academic Articles.
Mar 2022 - Sep 2023: External Examiner, BA Graphic Communication & BA Art Practice, WSC | University of East Anglia
May 2017 - Sep 2023: Senior Lecturer in Graphic Communication Design, University of Northampton
Nov 2020 - Apr 2022: Programme Leader, BA Visual Communication Level 6, CiBAP College, Netherlands
Nov 2017 - Apr 2022: Programme Leader, BA Visual Communication Level 6, SintLucas College, Netherlands
Sep 2015 - Apr 2017: Sessional Lecturer, Visual Theory & Art History, BA Illustration & Animation, UCA Canterbury
Sep 2015 - Apr 2017: Dissertation Supervisor, BA Graphic Design, UCA Canterbury
Sep 2012 - Sep 2016: Visiting Lecturer, UCA Farnham & Epsom
Sep 2015 - Apr 2016: Sessional Lecturer, Visual Communication, Foundation, UCA Rochester
Sep - Dec 2016: 0.6 Lecturer, BA Illustration & Animation, UCA Canterbury
Sep 2013 - Sep 2014: Graduate Teaching Assistant, BA Graphic Design, UCA Maidstone
Sep 2013 - Sep 2014: Fellow Researcher, UCA Maidstone, Canterbury, UK
Jul 2013: Visiting Lecturer, The American University, Beirut
May 2012: Visiting Lecturer, The Institution of Art & Design, Prague
Sep 2008 - Sep 2010: 0.5 Lecturer, BA Visual Communication: Graphic Design, University of Damascus
Sep 2008 - Sep 2010: 0.5 Senior Lecturer, BA Visual Communication: Graphic Design & Illustration,
The Italian Private University of Science & Arts PUSA, Aleppo
Membership
Member of The One Club for Creativity. New York. USA
Member of The Type Directors Club. USA
Member of The One Club for Creativity. USA
Member of The Letter Exchange Club. UK
Member of The Editorial Board of International Journal of Literature and Arts (IJLA)
Member of INSEA: The International Society for Education Through Art - UK
Member of NSEAD: The National Society for Education in Art and Design - UK
Member of SAA: The Society for All Artists - UK
Professional Experience
2017/18 Course Developer and Writer of BA Visual Communication Level 6, SintLucas College, Netherlands
2018 Organizer & Judge, Art Society Northamptonshire, Poster Competition, Northampton
2018 Graphic Designer, Sense of Place & Purpose Multimedia exhibition, Marketwalk Center, Northampton
2018 Curator and Coordinator, Sense of Place & Purpose Multimedia exhibition, Marketwalk Center, Northampton
2017/18 Researcher & Designer, Blockchain Educational Passport Research Project, University of Northampton
2017/18 Chair, Organizer and Coordinator, Multidisciplinary Design Symposium, University of Northampton
2017/18 Web & Graphic Designer, Multidisciplinary Design Symposium, University of Northampton
2015 Graphic Design Supervisor, Edge Creative Agency, UCA Canterbury
2015 Graphic Designer & Researcher, Venice Agendas: Rights of Passage, Venice
2015 Film Director, Noye’s Flood Opera, Cambridge
2014 Film Editor, Visualization of Verdi Opera, Royal Opera House, Thurrock
2014 Workshop Leader, Visual Music, Wysing art centre, Cambridge
2010-2013: Freelance Designer, Imagination Group & Think Media, London
2004-2009: Senior Graphic Designer & Illustrator, Trade Dep., Thailand Embassy, Damascus
2008 -2009: Freelance Designer, SCAA Syrian Civil Aviation Authority, Damascus
2008: Freelance Designer, Presidential Palace, Damascus
2008: Freelance Designer, Ministry of Culture, Damascus: Capital of Arabic Culture Festival
2006-2011: Founder & Art Director, H.G Creative Agency, Damascus
Selected Exhibitions
2024: Dec. Immersive Art Experience. Dundas Street. Toronto. Canada
2024: Nov. Whispers of Wonderes. Rue Notre Dame De Nazareth. Paris. France
2024: Nov. AI Meets Creatvity. The 6th Emirates International Poster Festival. Dubai. UAE
2024: Oct. Mixing Identities. Palazo Albrazzi - Capello. 60th Art Biennale. Venice. Italy
2024: August. Horizons. Holy Art Gallery. London. UK
2024: July. Cultural Narratives. Arteria Gallery. Barcelona. Spain
2024: May. Seoul Speaks Arabic. Solo. Push to Enter Gallery. Seoul. South Korea
2024: Apr. Taouk, Etihad Gallery, Abu Dhabi, UAE
2024: April. Reviving Retro, Al Majaz, College of Fine Arts & Design, UoS, UAE
2023: Oct. Type as Form, Al Riwaq, College of Fine Arts & Design, UoS, UAE
2022: Sep. Tolerable Art Short Film, Northampton, UK & Online
2018: Oct. Rhythm of Revolution, University of Ohio, USA
2018: Oct. Poetry Film festival, Bristol, UK
2018: Nov. Cornwall Book Festival, Cornwall, UK
2018: Feb. A Void & Traveling Bag, NAC Gallery, Paris
2017: Apr. Geographical Changes in War, AAG, Boston, USA
2016: Sep -Oct. My Homeland, Foyer Gallery, Farnham, UK
2016: Sep. You & I, Ausstellung Im Hospitalhof, Stuttgart, Germany
2016: Jun. Experimental Short Films Collection, Amsterdam, Netherlands
2016: Feb - Mar. From Rochester with Love, [solo], Herbert Read Gallery, Canterbury, UK
2015: Oct. Skype Call with Mum, TIAF Festival, London, UK
2015: Oct. Syrians in Time of War, Wells Art Contemporary, Wells, UK
2015: May - Jun. Damascene Moon, Short Films Exhibition, Paris, France
2014: Nov. Portrait, 6th Passion for Freedom Art Festival, London, UK
Selected Conference Participations
2025: Apr. Visual Manifestos: Beyond the Page, into Space. Innovative Intersections in Art. Architecture, and Interior Design International Conference. Canadian University in Dubai, UAE
2025:Apr. Visual Communication Beyond Borders: on Cultural Hybridization and Identity through Art. Borders and Borderlands International Conference. London Centre for Interdisciplinary Research, Birkbeck University of London, UK
2024: May. Bridging Theory and Practice. The 19th International Conference on The Arts
in Society. Seoul. South Korea
2024: Feb. Ruined but not Forgotten. London Centre for Interdisciplinary Research, Birkbeck University of London, UK
2023: Dec. Climate Action Through Creativity. The 5th International Conference
on Social Sciences, Humanities, Paris, France
2023: Jul. Black Life Matters: Did It Change Our Perception of Art? The European Conference on Arts, Design, and Education. Lisbon, Portugal
2022: Jul. Tolerable Art. 17th International Conference on the Arts in Society, Zaragoza, Spain
2022: Jun. Political Public Art, Annual Research Conference,University of Northampton, UK
2018: May. Images of war, Metropolitan Manchester University & University of London, UK
2018: May. Art & Displacement, Yale Club London, University College London, UK
2017: Apr. Geographical Changes in War, AAG, Boston, USA
2017: Jan. Design War and War Design, Innovative Art Center, Brussels, Belgium
2016: Jun. Syrian Domestic Experience, Refugee Week, Huguenot Museum, Rochester, UK
2016: Mar. The Art of Personal Moving Image, The Beaney Museum, Canterbury, UK
2015: Apr. Bordering Strangeness, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK
2014: Feb. White Cube/Dark Cube Symposium, Canterbury Christ Church, UK
Selected Publications
Georges, H. (2025) Climate Action Through Typography. Harmonia: Journal of Arts Research and Education. (Accepted)
Georges, H. (2022) Reconciliation with the Pain Through Embracing the Past: Message of Hope and Resilience
via the Ugaritic Alphabet. International Journal of Education Through Art. Volume 18, Number 3. pp. 411-416.
Georges, H. Following another article; A Personal Perspective on the Relation between Creativity & Motherhood.
Interdisciplinary Humanities Journal. Volume 37, Number 1. pp. 110-120
Georges, H. (2016) Conversations in the Midst of the Syrian Conflict: Visual Response
to the Syrian Conflict Via the Personal and Domestic, (Ph.D. Thesis), British Library, London
Georges, H. (2011) Graphical Reality: Renovating Visual Figures, Self-published
Georges, H. (2011) Graphic Design in Conceptual Art, Self-published
Georges, H. (2010) Khas Jidan (Arabic poetry book), Damascus
Training
2020: Jan. Management Fundamentals Programme, University of Northampton
2017: Jun. Thriving in Changing Environment, University of Northampton
2017: Jun. Introduction to Program Design, University of Northampton
2017: Jun. Academic Induction to Quality, University of Northampton
2017: May. Data Protection, University of Northampton
2017: May. Equality & Diversity in the Workplace, University of Northampton
2017: May. Identifying Students at Risk, University of Northampton
2017: May. Assessment & Feedback & Student Policy, University of Northampton
2017: May. Introduction to NILE/SAGE, University of Northampton
2016: Oct. Essentials of Teaching, Learning and Leadership, University of Northampton
2016: Oct. Reflective Practice for Learning and Teaching in the Creative Arts, UCA Canterbury
2012: Mar. Introduction to Learning, Teaching and Leadership, UCA Epsom
2008: Sep. Teaching at Higher Education Level, University of Damascus
Selected Awards
2015: The Independent Artist Fair Festival, London, Second Prize
2015: The Wac Awards, Wells Art Contemporary, shortlisted
2012: 4th Passion for Freedom Festival, London, shortlisted
2007: BA Graduate Award, Ministry of Higher Education, Syria, First Prize
Grants
2024: SEED Grant from The University of Sharjah. Research Title: Contemporary Arabic Graphic Design since 2010.
2022: ECR Grants Scheme funding for 'Tolerable Art' Research Project, UoN
2016: Grant for the Arts: Art Council England, funding for 'From Rochester with Love' solo exhibition
2016: Exhibition Support Grant, University for the Creative Arts
2015: Research Grant, University for the Creative Arts
2010: Grant for The First BA Graduate in Syria: Full Master and Doctoral Scholarship, University of Damascus
Profile on Linkedin : https://uk.linkedin.com/in/halageorges