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Tributes flood in for ‘larger than life’ KU academic director who died

By River Reporter Feb 21, 2013

KU academic will be sadly missed by many.



Cerys Traylor


Ian Noble, academic director in communication design at Kingston University, professional graphic designer and author has died. 


Mr Noble, who died January 30, was described as a larger than life character, who was an “innovator in graphic design education”.


Noble was tweeting from his hospital bed two days prior to his death, saying how he: “was the most poorly I have ever been”.


Highly reputable


Originating from Portsmouth, Ian quickly developed a reputation within the graphic design industry, beginning his career at Portsmouth College of Art, and then head of graphic design at the London College of Printing in 1997. In 2010, Mr Noble became the academic director of the MA communication programme at Kingston’s Knights’ Park campus.


Contribution will be felt through his books


MA student, Jasper Sutherland said: “He had a huge impact on me, he was less interested in what I had done and far more interested in what I wanted to do.”


Ian has written two books on graphic design and illustration, which are widely used as course material at Kingston University, and further afield.


“Huge void in our lives”


Alison Tutt, a part-time MA communications student added: “Ian’s death was so sudden and we are left with a huge void in our lives. I miss him, and I know I’m not alone. His influence will remain with me forever. Thank you Ian Noble.”


A colleague also added: “Ian was a true prodigy and there will be few, if any that will ever match his speed of mind, wealth of knowledge, warmth and pure genius.”

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