Arts University Plymouth has named Alanna Morgan as senior lecturer and course leader for its BA (Hons) Fashion Media & Marketing degree, a role she steps into after nearly a decade teaching on the program. Morgan first joined the institution as a lecturer and tutor in 2016, and has since helped develop teaching across all three years of the course while strengthening ties with industry partners.
Her background in fashion retail predates her academic career. Morgan worked as area creative supervisor for Miss Selfridge, where she oversaw visual merchandising at its Oxford Street flagship and across central London stores. She also held a creative support role at Topshop’s Knightsbridge flagship.
From retail floors to research on AI
Morgan’s research interests span visual culture, archive practice and emerging technologies, including how artificial intelligence affects authorship, ethics and creative decision-making. She has led industry-facing projects with brands including size? and New Balance. Students and graduates from the course have picked up professional experience with organisations such as Disney, Aston Martin Lagonda, Kickers and Netflix.
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What Morgan says she plans to do
Morgan said the strongest creative work combines a distinctive point of view with an understanding of audience, culture and purpose. She wants to give students room to take creative risks while keeping the curriculum responsive to emerging digital media and visual storytelling.
“Having lectured and taught on Fashion Media & Marketing for almost ten years, I know the ambition our students bring and how quickly the industry around them changes,” Morgan said. She added that live briefs, placements and professional feedback help students turn ideas into strong portfolios and practical experience.
Professor Stephanie Owens, dean of arts, design and media at the university, said Morgan combines commercial experience, curriculum leadership and a critical understanding of fashion culture. Owens noted that the appointment gives the course continuity and new direction as fashion media roles continue to evolve. She described Morgan’s mix of industry knowledge and intellectual rigour as rare, and said it will prepare students as next generation leaders in fashion media.
