Professor Scharoun is a multi-award winning teacher, researcher and designer with expertise in Visual Communications and Cross-cultural design. She received a Master of Arts in Design Studies from Central Saint Martins (University of Arts London) and subsequently worked in London as a graphic and interior designer before taking on a role as a Senior Lecturer in Visual Communications at Raffles Design Institute in Shanghai, China. On completion of a PhD focusing on “Western Fashion Advertising in Mainland Urban China and its effects on the Self Image of Youth” from Griffith University, she was offered the role of Program Director of the Graphic Design discipline at Deakin University in Melbourne. Prior to her appointment at QUT, Dr. Scharoun spent eight years at the University of Canberra where she was Program Director for Design and the founder of the Cross-cultural Design Lab. She has also spent time overseas as a visiting professor at Nanyang Polytechnic (Singapore) and as a visiting professor at Norges Kreative Hoyskole (Norway). A highly awarded teacher and researcher, Lisa received 6 Vice Chancellor’s Excellence Awards for teaching and research during her time at the University of Canberra along with the Australian Council of University Art and Design School’s “Distinguished Teaching Award.” Professor Scharoun continues to practice as a designer and has won many national and international prizes for her work. She was a top 10 finalist in the Bill and Melinda Gates “Records for Life” competition and was awarded the “Ease of Adding Information” prize for a design solution created to assist mothers in developing countries to remember to vaccinate their children. Her digital photographic design work has won numerous international awards such as the JM Cameron Prize for Women’s Photography and the Prix de la Photographie Paris.
