Chantal Jackson – GRAPHICS LAB

Core Skills

• Strategic visual storytelling for research communication and public engagement.
• Complex information design for academic, policy, and public audiences.
• Technical expertise: Adobe Creative Cloud, Affinity Suite, data integration, accessibility compliance.
• Educational material development with learning design principles – creating resources that engage and inform.
• Cross-disciplinary collaboration – translating complex concepts across fields.

Professional Background

I’m a Visual Communication Specialist – I’ve spent two decades at the intersection of academic research and strategic design, a space that’s taught me the art of making complex ideas beautifully accessible.

My career began in design studios, then moved into graphic design education. From there I went on to visual communication in Higher Education, where I discovered my passion lay in solving the unique communication challenges researchers face. From journal submissions to grant application visuals, I understand the delicate balance between the requirements of scientific rigor and visual impact that academics navigate daily.

Today, I collaborate with researchers across disciplines, transforming their groundbreaking work into publication-ready figures, and visuals for policy briefings and public engagement campaigns. My designs have appeared in top-tier journals.

What drives me is the belief that brilliant research deserves brilliant communication. Whether I’m developing hero figures, data visualisations, animations or designing exhibition installations, I approach each project with the same meticulous attention to detail that defines all good design – every element matters.

I believe the best design happens through collaboration, curiosity, and a commitment to getting the details right.

Qualifications

• BA (Hons) Visual Communication – Illustration (First Class), Birmingham Institute of Art & Design (now BCU)
• Professional Diploma in Digital Learning Design (in progress), Digital Learning Institute
• RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Plant Growth and Development, Winterbourne Centre for Horticulture
• City & Guilds 7407 Certificate in Further Education Teaching, North East Worcestershire College
• Skills Bootcamp in Data Skills for Creative Industries, University of Birmingham
• Natural History Illustration Certificate, edX/University of Newcastle

Experience

• Visual Communication Specialist – University of Birmingham. Managing visual communications for Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences. Creating research communications, policy engagement visuals and exhibition designs.
• Freelance Visual Communications Designer. Delivering design solutions for Coventry University, The Institute of Mathematics and its Applications, and University of Birmingham STEM project.
• Print and Design Officer – University of Birmingham. Designed and produced academic publications, managed complex print projects, created promotional materials for national education initiatives.
• Lecturer – Graphic Design – North East Worcestershire College. Taught visual communication principles, developed curriculum and provided mentorship in creative problem-solving.
• Artworker – Kilvington Leith Marketing.
• Graphic Artist – Pindar Set.

Let’s visualise things

Drop me a message to book visual communication support for your project.