Law Alsobrook

Specialization

Narrative Studies, Design Semiotics & Visual Communication

Education

MFA — Graphic Design • Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), USA
Thesis: Visual Narrative: The Art of Show & Tell
Advisors: Hammett Nurosi & Nancy Skolos
Specialization: Visual Narrative & Semiotics

    

BA — New College • University of Alabama, USA
Undergraduate Thesis: Comparative Dictionary of Artifacts & Symbols
Depth Study Focus: Creativity & Cultural Studies
Advisor: Dr. Alice Parker
Honors: Magna cum laude

Biography

Law Alsobrook is an artist, poet, writer, graphic designer and multi-disciplinary educator in the Graphic Design department at Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar. 

www.makingandthinking.com

Research Interests

I have an active interest in narrative studies and production, design semiotics, visual communication and their conjuncture with regard to media and consciousness. At present, my research focuses on the role of narrative and embodiment as intermediate agents of consciousness. 

 

Keywords

agency, archetype, asemic writing, augmented reality, autopoiesis, auxiliary reality, consciousness, embodiment, field theory (psychology), gestalt psychology, heterotopia, holograph, hypermediacy, linguistic determinism, meme, metaphor, metonym, morphogenic fields, mythology, narrative, cognitive narratology,  ontology,  phenomenology,  post-structuralism, quantum physics, semiotics, space-time, temporality, utterance, virtual reality

Teaching Experience

VCUQatar MFA in Design Studies 

• ARTS 591 Making Meaning

 

VCUQatar BFA classes in Graphic Design

• ARTF 139 Projects—Graphic Design
• ARTS 370 Topics in Art: Fabricate & d.i.y.
• GDES 202 Design Technology
• GDES 205 Design Methods & Processes
• GDES 211 Type I
• GDES 212 Design Form & Communication
• GDES 213 Type II
• GDES 214 Imaging I
• GDES 216 Imaging II
• GDES 343 Systems in Design
• GDES 346 Visual Narrative
• GDES 347 Interactive I
• GDES 345 Print I
• GDES 365 Print II
• GDES 491 Topics in Design: Bookbinding: The Book as Concept & Convention
• GDES 491 Topics in Design: Type & Publication

Previous Professional Experience

diode poetry journal & Diode Editions — Doha, Qatar | 2014–present
Art Director & Co-Editor for online poetry journal and poetry publications

nevermindesign — Doha, Qatar | 1999–present
Freelance designer and design consultant 

thinkdesign — New York, NY  | 2001–2009
Web designer and design consultant

Publications

Alsobrook, Law. (2016). The Spaces of Narrative Consciousness: Or, what is your event? Technoetic Arts: A Journal of Speculative Research, ed. Jane Grant. Volume 13, Issue 3 (Bristol: Intellect Journals): pps.239–244. ISSN 1477-965X, Online ISSN: 17589533.

Alsobrook, Law. (2015). The Tesseract: an analysis of the indexical divide between mediated consciousness and embodiment within narrative phenomenology. Noema: Technology & Society. 11 October. ISSN 2283-3145. 

Alsobrook, Law. (2015). Are we our fictions? The narrative boundaries of self. Technoetic Arts: A Journal of Speculative Research, ed. Tegan Bristow. Volume 12, Issue 2-3 (Bristol: Intellect Journals): pps. 337–346. ISSN: 1477-965X, Online ISSN: 17589533.

Alsobrook, Law. (2014). Project 1 : 100 Things or Teaching Design Vocabulary as a Second Language. Semiotics & Visual Communications: Concepts & Practices, ed. Evripides Zantides (Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing): pps. 164–175.

Alsobrook, Law. (2011). Towards Practice: The Art of Bookbinding Used to Instill Craft in Graphic Design. Vol. 8,: pps. 81–83. The Bonefolder: an e-journal for the bookbinder and book artist.

 

Creative Writing

2016

• §3.11…the perceptible sign — published by Unlost Journal

• BR9 (aka pararosaniline) — published by The New Engagement

• limerence of longing when apart — published by The New Engagement

• nævus — published in Petite Hound Press

• nostalgia — published by The New Engagement

• on the inner surface of elsewhere drawn with letters — published by Vayavya

• Philosophy and subtle speculation — published by Vayavya

• Rilke on the bedside — published by The New Engagement

• think of the still knife — published by random sample review

• you miss the places you imagine — published by The New Engagement

 

2015

• N-sect — published by The Volta

​• these particles, us, drifted for eons​ — published by Typehouse Literary Magazine (see page 50)

 

2014

• the world hurts today— published by after the pause (see pages 66–67)

Presentations

Alsobrook, Law. (2015). Between Mind & Body: A survey of narratology, embodiment, and the virtual. Consciousness Reframed: art and consciousness in the post-biological era & The 18th International Research Conference in the Planetary Collegium’s Series. 18–27 November. DeTao Masters Academy, Shanghai, China.

Alsobrook, Law. (2015). Variable There II: Reconfiguring narrative through urban data. Art Present: Mapping Space That Could Return To Earth Again, hosted by Fabrica de Arte Cubano and El Centro de Desarrollo de las Artes Visuales, Havana, Cuba, 2–6 June. Workshop with Diane Derr.

Alsobrook, Law. (2015). The Tesseract: an analysis of the indexical divide between mediated consciousness & embodiment within narrative phenomenology. The UnDivided Mind. 16–18 July. Plymouth University, Plymouth, UK.

Alsobrook, Law. (2015). The Spaces of Narrative Consciousness: Or, what is your event? STORY7, The Storytelling Project: 7th Global Meeting. 02–05 May. Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Alsobrook, Law. (2015). ARC² (Auxiliary Reality Cabinet of Curiosity). nextNature: Bonjour Monsieur Corbet–International Poster Exhibition. Kefalonia, Greece 23 April–08 May, 2015, and Athens, Greece, 04–07 June.

Alsobrook, Law. (2014). Variable There. Fak ‘ugesi — Digital Africa conference, University of the Witswatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, 04–06, December. Workshop with Diane Derr.

Alsobrook, Law. (2014). Are we our fictions? The narrative boundaries of self. Paper presentation: Fak ‘ugesi – Digital Africa Conference on the Post-Digital Organic. University of the Witswatersrand, Johannesberg, South Africa, 04–06 December.

Alsobrook, Law. (2012). The Transnational Classroom : the global dynamics of graphic design education. Paper presentation with Diane Mikhael: AIGA Design Educators Conference: GEOGRAPHICS: Design, Education, and the Transnational Terrain. Hawai’i, USA, 13–15 December. 

Alsobrook, Law. (2012). Physical computing workshop. Hamid Bin Khalifa Univeristy (HBKU ) for VCUQ MFA Interdisciplinary Design Studies. Doha, Qatar. Spring. Assistant to Diane Derr. 

Alsobrook, Law. (2012). Motivation + Curiosity in Parallel Learning. Presentation with Diane Mikhael: Qatar TESOL Conference: Student Motivation, Involvement & Autonomy. College of the North Atlantic, Qatar, 23 April.

Alsobrook, Law. (2011). Project 1 : 100 Things or Teaching Design Vocabulary as a Second Language. 1st International Conference on Semiotics and Visual Communication (ICSVC). Lemesos, Cyprus, 25–27 November.

Alsobrook, Law. (2011). Design Thinking and Making Meaning. TEDx: Education City: Flash Forward. Doha, Qatar, 07 April.

Alsobrook, Law. (2010). Al Nafizah, on the topic of Arabic calligraphy & typography. University of Waikato, Hamilton, NZ, 11 July. Public lecture with Diane Mikhael.

Alsobrook, Law. (2010). Al Nafizah, on the topic of Arabic calligraphy & typography. COCA Visual Communication Lecture, Massey University. Wellington, NZ, 22 July. Public lecture with Diane Mikhael.

Exhibitions

Alsobrook, Law. (2016). VCU in Qatar Faculty Exhibition. Exhibition of Variable There, digital installation and collaborative venture in visual narrative with Diane Derr. 20 January–23 February. Venue: VCU in Qatar Gallery, Doha, Qatar.

Alsobrook, Law. (2014). 20th International Symposium on Electronic Arts (ISEA) Exhibition of Te kalliste: to the fairest, interactive sculpture for category: Technology, Science & Art: East Meets West. Dubai, United Arab Emirates. 30 October–08 November. Venue: Lobo-Listone Gallery.

Alsobrook, Law. (2014). VCU in Qatar Faculty Exhibition: Strange Wonders. Exhibition of The Last Drop, print installation and collaborative venture in narrative & augmented reality with Dr. Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar. 14 April–06 May. Venue: Msheireb Enrichment Centre, Doha, Qatar.

Alsobrook, Law. (2011). VCU in Qatar Faculty Exhibition: F for Faculty Exhibition of Home, poster. 14 December 2010–20 Jan 2011. Venue: VCU in Qatar Gallery, Doha, Qatar.

Funded Research Projects and Grants

Alsobrook, Law. (2016). VCUQatar Faculty Research Grant — Augmented Reality.
Granted award to investigate and explore the relationship between mediated consciousness and narrative phenomenology found in augmented, virtual and mixed realities. [$7148.99]

Alsobrook, Law. (2015). MWC Press – Susan K. Collins/Mississippi Valley Poetry Chapbook—finalist

Alsobrook, Law. (2015). VCUQatar Faculty Research Grant — Variable There II: Reconfiguring narrative through urban data. Primary Investigator with Diane Derr.
Grant award to attend Art Present: Mapping Space That Could Return To Earth Again, hosted by Fabrica de Arte Cubano and El Centro de Desarrollo de las Artes Visuales in Havana Cuba, and conduct workshop on data collection and the creation of interactive exhibition. [$9014.90]

Alsobrook, Law. (2014). VCUQatar Faculty Research Grant — From There to Then. Primary Investigator with Diane Derr.
Grant award to conduct and gather research data for emergent media interactive exhibition on the theme of pilgrimage in India. [$10,176.23]

Alsobrook, Law. (2013). VCUQatar Faculty Research Grant — Lines in the Sand: Interacting with Qatar’s Past. In collaboration, with Diane Derr (Primary Investigator).
Grant award to create interactive environment and exhibtion with artifacts from archælogical sites, Al-Rwyadha & Al- Rubayqa, Qatar. [$19,444.00]

Alsobrook, Law. (2010). VCUQatar Faculty Research Grant — Design Methods & Motivations: Creative Strategies in Design Teaching and Praxis. Primary Investigator with Diane Mikhael.
Grant award to conduct cross-cultural study of design methods and practices used to teach indigenous student population of New Zealand. [$23,500.00]

Alsobrook, Law. (2009). Media & Technology Muse Awards. Bronze Medal in the category of Teaching & Outreach on the Web.
The Living Museum—A Living Memorial to the Holocaust.
The Museum of Jewish Heritage New York, NY.