Ms Samantha Ford

• Masters by Research in English Language and Applied Linguistics, no corrections (2019) University of Birmingham
• Bachelors with Honours in English Language, first class (2017) University of Birmingham
• British Sign Language Level 1, Signature (2018)
• Personal Skills Award Advanced, University of Birmingham (2017)
• Grade 8 in practical music performance on Eb tenor horn, ABRSM (2016)

Samantha graduated with a first class Bachelor of Arts degree in English Language (2017) and Master’s by Research degree in English Language and Applied Linguistics (2019) with a College of Arts and Law Master’s Level Scholarship at the University of Birmingham. Samantha’s Bachalor’s dissertation on the figurative complexity of multimodal metaphor and metonymy in mobile phone advertising received the Research Project Prize 2017 and her Master’s thesis explored the impact of colour and shape as visual figurative language in smartphone app icons. Samantha’s PhD entitled The creativity of figurative messaging in advertising: a collaborative investigation into its application and measurement of success in real-world advertising campaigns.

Samantha is working closely with Big Cat Marketing and Creative Advertising Agency to explore the notion of creativity in figurative messaging in advertising through the lens of linguistics and cognitive science. Figurative messaging involves conceptual and rhetorical devices such as metaphor, metonymy, hyperbole, and irony, iconicity, and sound symbolism. Samantha explores the use and impact of figurative messaging through a series of experiments and by observing performance in live advertising campaigns of social and not-for-profit organisations, charities, and trusts.

• Module tutor for BA Creative practice: Language, 2018/2019, University of Birmingham
• English Language and Linguistics Lab, 2017/2018, University of Birmingham
• ‘Apply yourself’ Peer Presenter 2017/2018, Careers Network, University of Birmingham
• Forward Thinking Outreach Mentor 2015/2016, Careers Network, University of Birmingham

Samantha’s research interests are figurative language, advertising, social media, and consumer behaviour. Her most current research is her M4C-funded PhD collaborating with Big Cat Marketing and Creative Advertising to explore the notion of creativity in figurative messaging in advertising through a lens of linguistics and cognitive science. Samantha is also a Research Assistant on the EMMA project that explores multimodal metaphor in advertising and works with international agencies to measure its impact.