Education
- MA. New Media & Society | University of Leicester, Leicester, UK, 2014
- B.Des Communication Design| Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture, Karachi, Pakistan, 1998
Courses & Workshops
- Workshop – Collaborative Research for Social Innovation: Designing Industry Briefs, Habib University (2023)
- Course: The Art of Pedagogy and Pedagogy of Art, IVS (Fall 2020)
- Workshop: Conversation Design by Saba Zaidi, ND2C Digital Design Conference, Serena Hotel, Islamabad (2018)
- Workshop: Uncovering Design Ecologies: Thinking in Systems by Ahmed Ansari, Habib University, Karachi (2018)
- Workshop: 3D Prototyping by Ali Murtaza, ND2C Digital Design Conference, Marriot, Islamabad (2017)
- Workshop: UI/UX Prototyping by Aneeqa Ishaq,ND2C Digital Design Conference, Marriot, Islamabad (2017)
- Vasl Faculty Mentoring Workshop, Vasl Artists Collective, IVS, Karachi (2017)
- Inclusive Theatre Workshop, Graeae Theatre Company, British Council Karachi (2015)
Research projects & Publications
- Journal Publication (2025) – Design Education: Rethinking Directions and Possibilities, in JDAP -Journal of Art and Design Education Pakistan.
- Teeside University (UK) (2024) funded project – Women Editors in Publication, involved in researching and digitally archiving the NUKTA ART magazine. Presented the findings at the Karachi Biennale 2024.
- Article (2024) Of ADA Awards, Maria Aslam and Design Activism in The Karachi Collective.
- Article (2024) Design Education meets design practice: Some thoughts in Iconica Magazine.
- Oxfam-funded project (2024) – Focus on Women in Art and Culture. Involved in research, writing, and conducting interviews/focus groups.
- Essay Publication (2023) – Reflecting Over the Khoj Design Research Residency: The Designer/Researcher in The Karachi Collective.
- Karachi Art Directory (2016-2019) – Project Lead and Co-Chair for an online art directory documenting contemporary Sindhi artists.
- Conference Paper Presentations– Topics including the Bauhaus influence on communication design and socially responsive design.
Biography
Tazeen Hussain holds an MA in New Media & Society from the University of Leicester, UK, and a Bachelor of Design in Communication Design from Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture, Karachi. With a strong foundation in communication design, her academic and professional interests lie at the intersection of media, communication, and design, particularly in the socio-cultural context of Pakistan.
Her teaching philosophy is rooted in emancipation, drawing from the works of Paulo Freire and Bell Hooks. She emphasizes inquiry-based, self-directed learning and integrates participatory design methods into her curriculum to foster critical engagement. Tazeen is passionate about guiding students to understand design within its socio-cultural framework and equipping them with the skills to create socially responsible and culturally relevant design solutions. As a practitioner and academic, she uniquely blends design theory with her experience as a Pakistani TV actor, offering students a holistic understanding of design’s cultural and societal implications.
Tazeen’s research focuses on pedagogical innovation, design education and practice, media and communication design, with an emphasis on the role of design in Pakistan’s history and its evolution. She advocates for expanding the boundaries of knowledge to include indigenous and experiential narratives, ensuring that design research includes voices from underrepresented communities. She is also interested in exploring the intersections between design and acting, particularly in how user experience design can enhance character development in TV productions.
Tazeen is actively involved in the academic community, serving on academic boards of multiple institutions across Pakistan, as a thesis advisor and engaging in various professional roles. Notable positions include being appointed the Chair of the Design category for the ADA Awards (fourth cycle) and serving on the editorial board of JADEP Journal of Art and Design Education. She has led significant initiatives such as the US-Pakistan University Partnerships Grants Program and has made substantial contributions to projects like the Karachi Art Directory.
In addition to her academic work, Tazeen is a prolific writer, contributing to publications on design, culture, and social issues. She is also deeply engaged in outreach projects, including those focused on digital storytelling and social innovation. Her mentorship extends to emerging designers, having mentored in various creative and academic initiatives.
Her multidisciplinary approach, combining design, media, and acting, positions her as a pioneering educator and researcher in the field of communication design in Pakistan.
Lectures, Workshops, & Panel Discussions
- Panel Moderator, UX Pakistan Conference, Habib University (2023).
- Discussion Panel on Climate Change Roundtable, LCC, UAL, London UK (2023).
- Lectures on design directions, thesis approaches, and semiotics in visual communication (2020-2021).
- Workshop on Digital Storytelling for Branding, 021 Disrupt Digital Design Conference, Karachi (2017).
Jury Member & Thesis Supervision
- Jury Member for various thesis presentations in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, Media, and Advertising (2021-2024).
- Mentorship of thesis students across numerous educational institutions, including BNU, SZABIST, and more.
Outreach & Mentoring
- Member, Core Committee for the Rise social incubator (2019).
- Mentor for digital storytelling, design challenges, and hackathons (2015-2018).
- Projects for social good, such as Meri Duniya Key Rang with NOWPDP (2016), and Manora Walls Project (2015).
Professional Affiliations
- Founding Member, The Karachi Collective (TKC).
- Member Peer Review Committee IEDAs: A Journal of Transdisciplinary Practices in Art & Design.
- Member – Karachi Arts Council, Pakistan.
- Member ACT – Actor’s Collective Trust, Pakistan.
- Member, Board of Studies in various academic institutions, including Member of Syndicate, SABS University, Jamshoro and Dept of Visual Communication BNU, Lahore.
- Former Trustee, Indus Earth Trust.
- Former Chair, Communication Advisory Committee at IVS.
Research Interests & Professional Development
- Focused on Design Research, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, UI/UX Design, and South Asian Design History. Passionate about integrating cultural studies, media, and communication into design practice.
