Manny Ling

Dr. Manny Ling

Interim Deputy Dean of School and Senior Program Manager, Bachelor of Design Studies

Details

  • College: School of Communication & Design
  • Department: School of Communication & Design
  • Campus: Saigon South Campus Vietnam
  • manny.ling@rmit.edu.vn

Open to

  • Masters Research or PhD student supervision

About

Dr. Manny Ling holds the position of Acting Deputy Dean at the School of Communication and Design and oversees the BA Design Studies program as Senior Program Manager at RMIT Vietnam. His unique perspective as a Chinese practitioner in the realm of Western art and design has significantly shaped his creative practice. Dr. Ling is captivated by the interplay of contrasts and contradictions in his work, exploring themes such as the intersection of traditional craftsmanship with digital innovation, the fusion of Eastern and Western aesthetics, the balance between historical reverence and contemporary expression, the harmony of motion and stillness, the elegance of simplicity against the richness of complexity, and the interplay between meticulous planning and creative spontaneity.

Awards & Recognition

2024. Visiting Professor, Dept. of Design, University of Sunderland, UK
2020. Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA)
2020. Awarded Nominee for the Best Doctoral Research Supervisor, University of Sunderland, UK
2013. Student-led Teaching Award—Most Inspirational Tutor, University of Sunderland, UK
2011. Honorary Fellow Calligraphy and Lettering Arts Society, (HFCLAS)
2011. Honorary Full membership of The Typographic Circle, UK
2011. Elected member of Letter Exchange, UK

Research fields

  • 330316 Visual communication design (incl. graphic design)
  • 3606 Visual arts
  • 390401 Comparative and cross-cultural education

Academic positions

  • Interim Associate Dean (Learning & Teaching)
  • RMIT Vietnam
  • School of Communication and Design
  • Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
  • 2024 – Present
  • Visiting Professor
  • University of Sunderland
  • Design
  • Sunderland, United Kingdom
  • 2024 – Present
  • Senior Lecturer and Senior Program Manager
  • RMIT University Hanoi
  • Design Studies
  • , Viet Nam
  • 2021 – Present
  • Senior Lecturer
  • University of Sunderland
  • Design, Program Leader MA Design and BA (Hons) Graphic Design
  • Sunderland, United Kingdom
  • 1998 – 2021
  • Visiting Lecturer
  • The London College of Printing
  • National Diploma in Typographic Design
  • London, United Kingdom
  • 1996 – 1997
  • Lecturer
  • Nottingham Trent University
  • BA (Hons) Graphic Design
  • Nottingham, United Kingdom
  • 1996 – 1998
  • Visiting Lecturer
  • Basingstoke College, Basingstoke
  • National Diploma in Graphic Design
  • , United Kingdom
  • 1995 – 1996
  • Lecturer
  • London College of Printing
  • National Diploma in Typographic Design
  • , United Kingdom
  • 1993 – 1996
  • Visiting Lecturer
  • Nottingham Trent University
  • BA (Hons) Graphic Design
  • Nottingham, United Kingdom
  • 1993 – 1996

Non-academic positions

  • Research & Education Consultant
  • Shaoxing University
  • Shaoxing, China
  • 2019 – Present
  • Digital Typeface Designer
  • Letraset UK Ltd
  • , United Kingdom
  • 1990 – 1992

Supervisor projects

  • Essaying the ramble and fluid convergences in my teaching artist practice
  • 30 Jan 2024

Teaching interests

Design Studies, Graphic communication, Typography, Calligraphy & Lettering, Cross-cultural and Cross-discipline practices.

Research interests

Dr. Manny Ling’s research focuses on cross-cultural design practices, employing calligraphy as a medium of graphic communication that transcends cultural, traditional, and methodological boundaries. Since 2000, he has served as the Director of the International Research Centre for Calligraphy (IRCC) at the University of Sunderland. Under his leadership, the IRCC has build an international reputation for its diverse research initiatives, including the curation of symposia, exhibitions, and publications.

 

Being a Chinese artist and designer educated in the Western tradition has profoundly shapes his scholarly pursuits. His work is deeply influenced by themes of ‘contrasts and contradictions’ and ‘crossing boundaries,’ exploring dichotomies such as the Handmade and Digital, East and West, Old and New, Energy and Stillness, Simplicity and Complexity, and Control and Spontaneity.