INTRO
DUC
TIOn

Hello, my name is April, and this is a site to introduce my work, ideas, and experience in the areas of design, human and health geographies, environmental management, education, and photography.

My focus is centred around analysing, curating and building sustainable and healthy environments. I practice socio-environmental design and research, informed by geographic, environmental, and public health perspectives.

I have backgrounds in environmental design/architecture, communications design/graphic design, academic lecturing, and social science research.

I also garden and hike—a lot.


  • EDUCATION

    2022     Graduate Certificate of Public Health  (Post-Graduate)
    College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Australia

    2016—19 Doctor of Philosophy (Design)
    School of Design, RMIT, Australia
    (Incomplete research due to a cancer diagnosis during this period. Also offered scholarship-funded places at the University of New South Wales and the University of Tasmania)

    2010—12     Master of Fine Art and Design—Environment 
    Tasmanian School of Art & Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Tasmania, Australia

    2005—07    Bachelor of Fine Arts  (Majoring in Communication Design)
    Tasmanian School of Art, University of Tasmania, Australia

    1999—01    Bachelor of Environmental Design 
    School of Architecture, University of Tasmania, Australia
    (Also offered Bachelor of Architecture places at the University of Sydney and the University of Melbourne)


    EMPLOYMENT

    2011—Current Independent Designer and Design Consultant

    2023—2024     Policy Officer
    Department of Premier and Cabinet, Tasmanian Government, Lutruwita / Tasmania, Australia 

    2022—2023     Research Officer
    Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Lutruwita / Tasmania, Australia 

    2022     Research Assistant
    Menzies Institute for Medical Research,  University of Tasmania, Lutruwita / Tasmania, Australia

    2022     Object Design Lecturer
    University Connections, University of Tasmania, Australia, 

    2022     Applied Design Lecturer
    University College, University of Tasmania, Australia.

    2016—19     Communication Design Lecturer
    School of Design, RMIT, Naarm / Melbourne, Australia

    2015—16     Design Lecturer and Coordinator
    English Language Centre, University of Tasmania, Australia

    2013—16     Visual Communication Lecturer and Theory Coordinator
    Visual Communication Studio, Tasmanian College of the Arts, University of Tasmania, Australia

    2012—14     Graphic Arts in Practice Coordinator
    Visual Communication Studio, Tasmanian College of the Arts, University of Tasmania, Australia

    2012—14     Visual Communication Lecturer
    Visual Communication Studio, Tasmanian College of the Arts, University of Tasmania, Australia

    2007—11     Creative Director and Designer

    State Library and Archive and Heritage Office, Lutruwita / Tasmania, Australia

    2005—07     Independent Architect
    Nipaluna / Hobart, Lutruwita / Tasmania, Australia

    2004—05     Architectural Assistant and Website Designer
    BPSM Architects, Nipaluna / Hobart, Lutruwita / Tasmania, Australia

    2003—04     Architectural Assistant
    RMJM Architects, Edinburgh, Scotland

    2002—03     Architectural Assistant and Website Designer
    Terroir Architects, Nipaluna / Hobart, Lutruwita / Tasmania, Australia


    Selected Presentation, Residency, Awards, Design and Photographic Publications

    2012 
      Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers, New York, America.
    Largest global conference for geography. Member of a panel discussion for the session ‘Islands, Arts and the Geographical Imaginations’.

    2014 and 2015     Designer-in-Residence. University of Tasmania, Australia

    2015   Awarded a Tasmania Graduate Research Scholarship
    2013   Awarded an Australian Postgraduate Award
    2012   Tasmania Overseas Travel Scholarship from the University of Tasmania
    1999   Tasmanian University Merit-Based Equity Scholarship


    Azimuth, ‘The Ecology of the Ear’, 2019, ed. Patrick Farmer, Sonic Art Research Unit, Oxford Brookes University. Photographic work to compliment a chapter in the book.

    ‘Water’s Edge’ (with Vanessa Berry), Jan 2015, part of the New Landscapes Institute collection, in Sydney. A collaborative publication of psychogeographical photographic and written responses about water and land edge locales in mirroring urban areas.

    Minor Literature[s], Sept 2014, ‘Christchurch—Greenland’, in London and Los Angeles. Publication of a photographic-based essay.

    Islet, Autumn 2011, in nipaluna / Tasmania, Australia. Article and photographic studies of Svalbard and Iceland featured in this ‘island’ themed edition, which was launched as part of the Ten Days on the Island festival.

    Dokulil, H., April/May 2008, ‘School’s Out’. Monument, No. 84, Pyrmont, pp. 43—54. One of twelve designers featured in an article on top design graduates for 2007 in Australia.