Teesside University Alumnus, John Barratt, receives honorary doctorate

John Barratt, President and Chief Executive Officer of US-based global design consultancy TEAGUE received a Doctorate of Business Administration alongside students from the School of Arts at this morning’s ceremony.

John Barratt, President and Chief Executive Officer of US-based global design consultancy TEAGUE received a Doctorate of Business Administration alongside students from the School of Arts at this morning’s ceremony.

Founded in 1926, TEAGUE is considered to be the most important design consultancy in the world. John joined TEAGUE in 1999, after working in a number of leadership positions at Philips Design in the Netherlands. He has dedicated his time to building on TEAGUE’s heritage, strengthening partnerships with some of the world's leading brands including Intel, Starbucks, Boeing and Samsung and pushing TEAGUE’s longstanding mission ‘to build a new and better world’ into the 21st century.

John studied at what was Teesside Polytechnic, graduating in 1988 with a BA (Hons) Three Dimensional Design – Industrial Design. John said of his time at the University: ‘Teesside helped shape the person I am today. It taught me the philosophy of doing over talking, thinking through making and creating a culture that prioritises the ‘we’ over ‘me’. The notion of team is something I learned at Teesside and the experience has been the foundation to my life’.

Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Teesside University Professor Paul Croney said: 'I am delighted that the University is awarding an honorary doctorate to John Barratt, one of our own graduates, who has enjoyed a remarkable career.

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