Dominic Wilcox
Art and Design Foundation 1994
Dominic Wilcox received a Doctorate of Arts at the summer graduation ceremonies 2016.
Dominic works between the worlds of art, design, craft and technology to create innovative and thought provoking objects, with commissions by a diverse range of organisations including Paul Smith, Selfridges, The V&A museum, BMW Mini and Jaffa Cakes.
In 2009 he started an award nominated blog called Variations on Normal to showcase his sketchbook inventions and observations and his recent projects include the design of a pair of shoes with inbuilt GPS to guide the wearer home and a stained glass driverless car of the future.
He said: "I'm proud to receive an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Sunderland, where I found my inner creativity. I had such a great childhood - growing up in Sunderland influenced my creative life and is where I became the person I am today.
"I think creativity and humour are intrinsically linked and that people in Sunderland have a great sense of humour - humour can connect unconnected experiences and things in new and unexpected ways.
"I attended Art and Design Foundation at the University of Sunderland and a tutor - Charlie Holmes - opened a door in my mind that I didn't know was there. It's fascinating how these little interactions can change people's lives.
"Congratulations to all of you graduating today, my advice to you is to believe in yourself and in your ideas. Thank you all for bringing your fresh ideas - stay true to your own voice and in your own ideas and put something new in the world.
"Good luck everyone; the world is an exciting place and there are more opportunities than ever. Your time is now to go out and make your mark."