Meet our staff

Anya Pearson

Programme Leader, School of Arts, Media, and Creative Industries ManagementMA, BA (Hons)
Email me: aperason@aub.ac.uk

Overview

Anya Pearson is Programme Leader for the School of Arts, Media and Creative Industries Management at Arts University Bournemouth, overseeing BA (Hons) Content Creation with Marketing, BA (Hons) Media Marketing and Advertising, and BSc (Hons) Fashion Management and Strategy.

Anya has taught at AUB for over 15 years, bringing extensive industry experience across content creation, fashion design and communication, marketing strategy, and brand development, supported by strong ties with industry partners and creative organisations.

Beyond her academic work, Anya is committed to cultural and social impact. She co-founded Visible Women UK, a charity dedicated to reinstating historically marginalised and overlooked women into public consciousness. In recognition of this work, she was named a Woman of the Year 2022. Anya also serves as a Non-Executive Director for the Arts Development Company, contributing to regional cultural strategy and sector development.

She is dedicated to developing students who are not only industry-ready but socially aware, inclusive in their practice, and equipped with the creative, strategic, and digital skills needed to thrive in today’s rapidly evolving media and creative industries.

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Contact:

Name: Anya Pearson She/Her
Email: aperason@aub.ac.uk

Qualifications

Qualifications

  • MA Digital Fashion Innovation (Arts University Bournemouth)
  • BA (Hons) Fashion Design and Marketing (Northumbria University)

Teaching

The courses Anya leads in the School of Arts, Media and Creative Industries Management bring together strong academic underpinning with real-time industry experience. She integrates live projects, professional collaborations and current industry practices into the curriculum so that students work directly with the creative sectors they aim to enter.

Anya’s pedagogic approach focuses on experiential learning, industry relevance and reflective practice. Her extensive professional networks help students develop confidence, adaptability and critical awareness. She is committed to nurturing socially conscious and inclusive graduates who can thrive and lead within the rapidly evolving media, marketing and fashion industries.

Courses

  • BA (Hons) Content Creation with Marketing
  • BA (Hons) Media, Marketing and Advertising
  • BSc (Hons) Fashion Management and Strategy

Research

Research Interests and Projects

Anya’s research sits at the intersection of fashion, technology and social justice, with a focus on surveillance, digital identity and the agency of the wearer. Her practice-led work investigates how garments and patterns can disrupt systems of visibility, power and biometric tracking.

During her MA, she developed Dazzle Design, a project that reimagines disruptive camouflage for the age of computer vision. Drawing on historical dazzle techniques and facial-tracking studies, she explored how pattern and movement can interfere with machine-learning systems and challenge how bodies are read by technology. The outcomes combined AI-assisted design, machine-vision testing and physical prototypes, forming a framework that bridges fashion innovation, critical design and emerging tech.

Her work contributes to ongoing conversations about digital rights, autonomy and the future of embodied identity.

Her published research in Geoconservation Research and its Outreach Impacts demonstrates how Visible Women UK uses creative storytelling, public engagement and digital platforms to bring historically marginalised women back into cultural visibility, opening up museums, archives and heritage spaces to new and more diverse audiences.

Professional Engagement

She serves as a Non-Executive Director at The Arts Development Company, contributing to cultural strategy, creative sector development and community-focused arts initiatives across the region. In this role, Anya supports policy development, organisational strategy and partnerships that strengthen the cultural economy.

Awards and Prizes

Notable awards/prizes

Notable Awards and Recognition

Anya has received national recognition for her work in creative education and social impact. She was named a Woman of the Year 2022 for her contribution to championing historically marginalised women through her work with Visible Women UK.

She is also a recipient of the Prime Minister’s Points of Light Award, presented by 10 Downing Street, recognising outstanding individuals who make a significant difference in their communities through innovative and impactful initiatives.

In addition, Anya received an RSPCA Good Business Award for her work in developing and implementing far-reaching animal welfare policies for major high street fashion brands, contributing to improved ethical standards across the retail sector.

Media Coverage