Dr. Theo Humphries BA (Hons), MA (RCA), FHEA, PhD

Theo is a senior lecturer in art and design at Cardiff School of Art & Design, part of Cardiff Metropolitan University.

Theo’s current research considers how ideas from humour theory and entanglement theory might address how humour is (mis)understood in design, specifically how derogatory humour, as a response to design, has been historically misperceived. Within this context, he demonstrates how drawing together ideas from these fields provides a designerly understanding of humour that is not framed in terms of derision, but as an indicator of a fracture in the relationship between audience and designed artefact. His hypothesis is that such an understanding will provide a theoretical footing toward a new way of designing for which derisory humour has been reconceptualised as a welcome indicator of innovation. Framed in this way, such a shift in posture and mindset is proffered as a foundational contribution to the nascent field of humour-centred design.

A PDF of Theo’s PhD is available to download by clicking here.

Theo is a member of the Metatechnicity Research Group at Cardiff School of Art and Design and of The Transtechnology Research Group at Plymouth University. Theo is also a member of The Faculty of Minor Disturbances, currently holding the position of Senior Vice President for Satire at the Department of Pop Culture. 

As an artist, Theo hacks cross-stitch kits under the name ‘Crapestry’. His work can be seen at crapestry.co.uk or @crapestry on Instagram.

Theo’s SARS Wars Toys project is a recent artistic response to the global pandemic caused by the virus known as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Many of Theo’s other projects can be viewed at theohumphries.com

Theo holds a BA (Hons) in ‘Design Futures’ from The University of Wales, Newport (since merged into The University of South Wales), an MA in ‘Interaction Design’ from The Royal College of Art (2005), and a PhD from Cardiff School of Art & Design (Cardiff Metropolitan University).

Theo cofounded ‘3eyes‘ design consultancy, with co-director John Anthony Evans. 3eyes worked with an exciting plethora of clients between 2001 and 2008.

Theo has been full-time lecturer since 2008 and a fellow of the Higher Education Academy since 2010.