Pippa Dickson was awarded a PhD at the Tasmanian School of Art in 2006. Dickson completed a Bachelor of Arts of the University of Western Australia in 1993 majoring in political science and a Bachelor of Fine Arts with first class honours in 2001, from the Tasmanian School of Art. She was subsequently awarded an Australian Postgraduate Award, which she took up in July 2003. She is employed by Arts Tasmania as a project coordinator, is responsible for the annual Young Designers Month, and part time teacher and tutor in Furniture Design and Craft and Design Theory at the Tasmanian School of Art. In 2004 Pippa travelled to study at the University of Art and Design in Helsinki to pursue research towards her PhD and has was a recipient of the Bill Roberts Memorial Travelling Scholarship.
Pippa investigates areas that have a transitional element, where waiting and congregation, arrival and departure are the main function of the space. Her research is covering issues to do with identity and placelessness within public transit areas. She is currently designing bus stop elements for the Hobart City Council including shelters, seating, signage and lighting and furniture for an Art for Public Buildings project at Deloraine Health and Community Centre.
Her PhD research, ‘Emotion in Transit-Furniture for and about Transit Areas’, was predominantly inspired by elements of aircraft design. She is researching the history of transportation in Tasmania and associated notions of progress. The Derwent River provided paths for both ships and flying boats. Pippa will attempt to capture these ideas of movement in her new work by designing seating and lighting that can be suspended or placed in nominated areas of The Henry Jones Art Hotel.
The works by Pippa Dickson in the Hotel are prototypes. The chairs (Over Hangar) won an Object-Australian Centre for Craft and Design prize for New Design in 2002.
Pippa Dickson is CEO of the Glenorchy Art & Sculpture Park (GASP!) founded in 2008. She has been responsible for developing and implementing strategic priorities and raising significant investment from all tiers of government for infrastructure as well as managed the design processes. She works closely with the community, civic, arts and business leaders on developing a shared vision and implementing the critical steps to achieve it.
