Dr Blane Savage

I am a scholar/practitioner with over two decades of experience in the private sector, followed by 24 years in academia. Current areas of teaching focus on creativity, visual narrative forms, animation and motion graphics post-production skills.

An industrial design graduate of Glasgow School of Art, I began my career in the 1980's working on innovative projects for the Scottish aerospace and oil industries, including sub-sea robotic systems and was an innovator in digital aircraft design and maintenance. I joined the Media faculty of the University of the West of Scotland in 2000 as a lecturer, where I developed an Honours Bachelor’s degree program in Digital Art, and also deliver post-graduate level courses on an MA in Creative Media Practice programme. I am a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in the UK.

I have extensive experience in international academic exchange and collaborative initiatives through EU ERASMUS and DAAD programmes, working closely with German, Swedish, Belgian, Canadian and USA educational partners.

I have just returned from a research project in Tokyo, Japan looking at visual artists' network and the Japanese government's cultural policy. My research focus includes publications exploring the psychology of creativity, and the role of networks in sustaining artistic creative practice, the Creative Industries & Scottish Government cultural policy, creativity & therapeutic practice, stand-up comedy, art practice and international collaborations.

I am also a certified clinical therapeutic practitioner and have used Ericksonian Hypnotherapy to assist people with addictions, phobias and stress related problems. I have performed stand-up comedy at the Edinburgh Festival and am the author of the book, Master Stand Up Comedy (2013).

I also have danced Argentine Tango for ten years.