Rate My Professor Ralph Kenke

Dr. Ralph Kenke is a Design Lecturer at the University of Newcastle's School of Humanities, Creative Industries and Social Sciences. He serves as Program Convenor for the Bachelor of Visual Communication and Design, teaching courses including Visual Identities, Print Publication, Wayfinding Design, User Interface Design, and Embodied Interaction. He coordinates Design Principles, Future Design and Professional Practice, Brand Identities in Space, and Professional Portfolio within the Graphic Communication and UX Design Majors. Since 2014, he has taught Professional Portfolio Design, mentoring students toward graduation through collaborative studio environments and Work Integrated Learning opportunities. Kenke holds a PhD in Design from the University of Newcastle, a Master of Design from the University of New South Wales Sydney, and a Graduate Diploma of Design in Communication Design from Swinburne Institute of Technology. He is a Research Member at the Future Art Science Technology Laboratory (FASTLAB) and the Transdisciplinary Research Network in Art and Interface Technology (TRAIT), as well as an Industry Professional member of the Australian Graphic Design Association (AGDA).

Kenke's practice-based research investigates prototyping as the origin of innovation for speculative art and design concepts, informing digital visual identities, data-visualisation, media installations, urban interaction design, and human-centred approaches to emerging technologies. His work addresses gaps between Human-Computer Interaction and cultural or social motives behind digital habits, proposing an Action Design approach to intrusive technologies such as AI, machine learning, and micro-monetisation patterns. Key publications include books such as 'Waste of time' (2015), 'More Than Ever' (2014) with L. Robert-Goodwill, and 'Rollen' (2004); chapters like 'Visual Territories: Perspectives on Domain Knowledge Acquisition in Design for Health' (2025) and 'Ballooino Media Balloons: Floating Pixels for an Agile Design of Responsive Public Spaces in Smart Cities' (2025); and conference papers including 'Facial Image Browsing Simulation for Selfies' (2020, ACM TEI) and 'The Art of Data Portraiture: Enabling a Public Debate on Self-surveillance' (2021). Creative works feature 'Bruns Lane Cloud' (2021, awarded three AGDA Awards in Multi-sensory installations, Spatial Design, and Technological Innovation), 'Selfie Factory' (2017, National Portrait Gallery Digital Portraiture Award), and 'Floating Pixel Media Balloon' (2022). He has received awards from the New York Type Directors Club (2020, 2016), National Print Award (2019), Fisher's Ghost Award (2017), and others. Exhibitions include the National Portrait Gallery (Canberra), Ars Electronica (Linz), Cooper Union Institute (New York), and BAU Design College of Barcelona. Collaborations encompass 'The House we Build' for housing transparency and 'Living Laneways' for urban space activation.