About

Dr Jo Bailey
BSc (Hons), MDes (Distinction), PhD (Science in Society)

Education, Research & Visual Communication Design
School of Design / Ngā Pae Māhutonga, Massey University

Kia ora. I am a Senior Lecturer and co-lead of the Visual Communication major at the School of Design / Ngā Pae Māhutonga, Toi Rauwhārangi College of Creative Arts, Massey University in Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand. I teach across a wide range of areas including typography, editorial design, UX/UI, and spatial information design.

I am also a principal investigator with Te Pūnaha Matatini who supported my PhD with theSchool of Science in Society at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University, where I explored ways for design to help scientists with their science communication through connecting them with social science theory on public engagement with science. My PhD thesis was examined and accepted (with no changes!) in April 2024.

I work on projects including the ‘Engagement Incubator´ (a way of centring public engagement at the heart of Te Pūnaha Matatini research projects) and Maths Craft in a Box, helping teach the science of fractals through craft in the classroom, the brainchild of mathematicians at the University of Canterbury.  

My design and research practice focuses on systems to facilitate access to, and understanding of, complex information — predominantly science, and nonfiction narratives. My work marries functional and aesthetic elements within interactive and analogue works, including websites, data visualisations, books, brand communication systems, exhibition and installation design. Much of my work is interdisciplinary, and most of it is collaborative. 

I have a background in geography and information management and have worked extensively in the NGO sector. I am interested in conservation and sustainability, the built environment, and the personal ethics of design practice.

I tweet at @jo_bailey (rarely these days), I am on Bluesky at bsky.app/profile/jobailey.bsky.social and linkedin at linkedin.com/in/jobaileydesigner and you can reach me at j.bailey@massey.ac.nz.