Zarna Hart

Trinidadian curator-designer-educator based in London.

Zarna (she/her) is an academic and design practitioner currently lecturing at the University of the Arts London. Her work focuses on bridging design theories and practices with principles of anti-colonialism, often engaging with archives through graphic design.

Zarna’s dedication to creating a more inclusive and equitable design education is evident in initiatives involving cultural institutions in London. Her most notable examples include a partnership with the V&A which invited BA Graphic Design students to activate and engage with their collections; as well as the Final_Final Programme which fosters support and career preparation for global majority design students, supported by the UAL Teaching & Learning / EDI Fund. The pilot empowered 12 final-year global majority students to graduate with strong, industry-ready portfolios, and continues today.

Regarding her academic history, she has an MA in History of Design from the Royal College of Art / Victoria & Albert Museum, where she was awarded the V&A’s Clive Wainright Memorial Prize. Her research was also recognised by the Design History Society, for her work on the intersection between print culture and oral history documentation within the Caribbean context. Zarna’s practical foundation was built at Cardiff Metropolitan University (with a year at The University of Europe for Applied Sciences), leading to 10+ years of professional experience in graphic design through branding/advertising agencies and design consultancy across the Americas and Europe.

Beyond her academic practice, Zarna is a cultural historian and public engagement consultant for My Father, The Homemaker Documentary Film, and the co-lead of An Archive is a School: Knowledge Exchange Program.

Teaching

UAL Central Saint Martins・ Lecturer・MA Graphic Communication Design・2025 - Present

UAL Camberwell College of Arts・Lecturer・BA (Hons) Graphic Design・2023 - Present

University for the Creative Arts・Visiting Lecturer・Contextual Studies・BA Graphic Design・2024 - Present

Ravensbourne University・Visiting Lecturer・MA Design Communication・2025

Kingston University・Lecturer・Critical & Historical Studies・2023 - 2025

Panels / Talks

Moments Away From Home: Migration on Film and in Words・Victoria & Albert Museum・October 2025

The Design of History and the History of Design・UAL London College of Communication・September 2025

Alumni in Conversation・MA RCA/V&A History of Design Alumni・May 2025

Out of Many One Caribbean: Delving Deeper into Our Collections・V&A・February 2025

Illustration & Heritage: Sharing Histories to Draw out Futures・University of the Arts London・November 2024

Border Control・Design History Society x University of Creative Arts・September 2024

Society of Caribbean Studies’ Postgraduate Conference・University of Warwick・July 2024

Wi Dey Yah Conference・The Caribbean Fashion and Design Research Network x Design History Society・August 2023

Caribbean Women Tech-makers Conference・Google・March 2023

Written Contributions

On Branding an Island・Imperfect Index・November 2025

Listening in One’s Own Voice・History Workshop・March 2025

Farah Al Qasimi: Mother・Tate・June 2024

Vera Molnar: Machine Imaginaire− the dance of hands and machine thinking・V&A・January 2024

Signs of Life: The Sacred Objects of Mairi Millar・The Trinidad Guardian・November 2023

Provocative Objects: The Pirate and Traders of the West Indies・Design History Society・January 2023

Exhibitory・Designer Island・April 2019

Curatorial Exhibitions

Keep In Touch II: Group Exhibition・Greenwich Arts & Community Centre・London・November 2024

Signs of Life: Solo Exhibition・Sarabande Foundation・London・June 2024

To Find, To Hold, To Share: Group Exhibition・Hockney Gallery, Royal College of Art・London・March 2024

24/7: Group Exhibition・Hypha Studios・London・February 2024

Sankofa: Group Exhibition・Royal College of Art・ London・December 2023

Keep In Touch: Group Exhibition・Host of Leyton・ London・November 2023

Do You Buy This?: Group Exhibition・The Ugly Duck・ London・August 2023

Funded By

Design History Society・Decolonising Design History・2025

University of the Arts London・Teaching & Learning / EDI Fund・2024 - 2025

Design History Society・Research Exhibition Grant・2023

Royal College of Art・MA History of Design Research Grant・2023

In Other News

Designing New Futures: RCA Alumna Zarna Hart on Education and Equity

Design History Society’s 2024 Prize Winners

Contact:

zarnahart@gmail.com // @zarnahart