Courses Taught
G R A D U A T ESpeculative Aesthetics through Digital Archives
A graduate course that takes a close look at the premises and impact of methods in digital culture research, the course offers insight into theoretical aspects of these methods, and the opportunity to apply them creatively. Through methods of speculative design, estrangement, and defamiliarization, participants in this class will create new directions for the future using a digital archive of their choosing. The course includes case studies profiling the work of some of the most provocative theorists and creators of speculative design, as well as independent research time devoted to creating creative interventions. (2024).
MFA Design Seminar
Advanced graduate seminar guides MFA students in developing a cohesive body of work that reflects their individual design vision and practice. Emphasizing historical and contemporary cultural literacy, the course challenges students to contextualize their work within broader design and cultural movements. Advanced theoretical readings and critical discussions connect students' projects to current debates in the field. The course also provides professional preparation, including portfolio development and industry engagement strategies, to position graduates for success in the academic job market (2018–2023).
MFA Thesis Advising
Graduate students work to advance their visual communication design graduate-level thesis work, producing a cohesive body of work that is publicly exhibited in the university art galleries. Through research, studio visits, critical feedback, and iterative design processes, students refine their design interventions and conceptual body of research-creation (2018–2025).
U N D E R G R A D U A T EPoetry Machines: Computing, Culture & Creativity
An undergraduate introduction to computing and literary studies is organized around the design, programming, construction, and implementation of a poetry robot. Taking inspiration from what is likely the first work of digital literature, Christopher Strachey’s love letter algorithm for the Manchester Mark 1 computer in 1952, students in this course will explore the relationship between literary expression, romantic desire, and computational procedures while gaining first-hand experience in algorithmic design and robotic construction (2023).
Motion Design
An advanced undergraduate, studio-based visual communication design course explores traditional and experimental animation in short film format(s). Beginning students will learn Adobe Premier and After Effects, as well as stop motion and projection techniques. A storyboard, moodboards, rough animatic drafts, and final rendered short(s) will be developed for multiple major projects. In this course, students will learn animation pre-planning, motion-based storytelling, title sequence design, character design, typography in motion, visual effects, sound, and rendering techniques. At this level, students are expected to deploy creative, meaningful, and impactful design solutions over the fourth dimension of time (2023—2024).
Creativity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
This project-based, undergraduate course allows students to explore existential and ethical questions at the intersection of creativity and artificial intelligence. Students learn how to integrate text-to-image software, large language models, and other deep-learning software into a creative practice. Through studio and design projects, the course explores the far-reaching impact of these advanced technologies on art and design, focusing attention on topics ranging from the possibilities of democratizing artistic practice and exponentially expanding the speed and volume of human creative output, to concerns over copyright infringement, environmental impact, human vs machine creativity, and bias within datasets (2024).
Fundamentals of Visual Communication Design
This foundational undergraduate studio course introduces students to visual communication design as an important medium for visual knowledge production and communication. Emphasizing both historical and contemporary cultural literacy, students engage in print, dimensional, and screen-based projects that explore the design process from problem discovery and concept creation to setting and solving visual challenges. Students solve design challenges that center on curation, observational rendering, vector abstraction, theories of gestalt, typographic meaning-making, layouts and hierarchies, symbol systems, and the poster as form. Readings cover writing by Edward Tufte, Steven Heller, Ellen Lupton, Victor Papanek, Milton Glaser, and Bryony Gomez-Palacio, among others. Through hands-on assignments, critiques, and theoretical discussions, students will develop essential skills and an understanding of design's role in shaping meaning and messages across diverse media (2012–2023).
Typography
An introductory undergraduate studio course on the art and practice of typography, exploring how type can communicate, shape meaning, and evoke emotion. Students will learn the principles of type selection, hierarchy, spacing, and layout, developing an understanding of type anatomy and historical context. Through a series of progressively complex, hands-on studio assignments, students will create compositions for print and digital media, mastering techniques for effective communication and aesthetic expression using type (2017–2024).
Branding
A studio-based course building on the use of color, type, image, and design principles, students establish consistent, identifiable, and meaningful brand/identity systems. Students learn the process and principles used to design logos and assemble type, color, illustration, imagery, and graphic elements into powerful brand systems. Structured around hands-on projects and exercises, students are guided through the design process and introduced to the strategy and ethics of branding (2022).
Production for the Graphic Designer
An advanced undergraduate studio course focusing on production processes essential to bringing design projects from concept to completion. Students gain hands-on experience with industry-standard tools and techniques, including pre-press preparation, color management, print technologies, and digital workflows. Emphasizing efficiency, precision, and quality control, this course bridges the gap between design creativity and practical execution. Projects and case studies will provide insight into production methods for various media, from print publications to digital assets, enabling students to master the technical skills needed to ensure their designs are produced accurately and professionally in the real world (2019–2020).
Packaging Design
An advanced undergraduate studio course exploring the creative and practical aspects of packaging design, design research, and dimensional problem solving. The course emphasizes how packaging shapes consumer perception and enhances brand identity. Students will learn to design packaging that balances aesthetics, function, and sustainability while considering market trends, target audiences, and production constraints. Through hands-on projects, critiques, and case studies, participants will develop skills in concept development, structural design, and visual storytelling, culminating in professional-quality portfolio pieces. (2025).
Introduction to Art and Design History
This introductory, undergraduate course offers a chronological survey of art and design, spanning from historic to contemporary works across diverse cultures and movements. Beginning with Classical and Medieval movements, the course reviews 14th–early 19th centuries (Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassicism) through the mid and late 19th century (Romanticism, Realism, Impressionism and Art Nouveau), before considering Expressionism, Cubism, Futurism, Dada, Bauhaus, and Surrealism prior to and alongside Modernism. 20th century movements such as Art Deco, Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art, Postmodernism, Minimalism, and Deconstructivism foreground contemporary movements such as Digital Art, New Media, Speculative Design, and Critical Design. Scholarship by theorists (e.g., Aristotle, Walter Benjamin, Clement Greenberg, Guy Debord, Susan Sontag, Rosalind Krauss, and Hal Foster) emphasize cultural literacy, and contextualizing the evolution of artistic and design practices within their social, political, and technological environments. Through lectures, discussions, and visual analysis, students will gain a deeper understanding of how art and design have shaped and reflected human culture, providing a strong foundation for creative and critical thinking in their own design practice (2018).
Adobe Creative Suite for Designers
Undergraduate, studio course equips students with essential industry-standard skills in the Adobe Creative Suite software, including: Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, After Effects, and Premiere. The course emphasizes practical techniques and workflows to enhance creativity and productivity. Students will learn to create vector graphics, edit and manipulate images, design layouts for print and digital media, produce motion graphics, and edit video content (2012–2015).
BFA Design Seminar
This advanced, undergraduate seminar is the culminating experience for BFA design students, focusing on research, concept development, and production of a comprehensive capstone project. Emphasizing the integration of historical and contemporary cultural contexts, students will engage in in-depth exploration of design theory, applying insights to their individual work. Through guided research, critiques, and hands-on practice, students will refine their concepts and create a professional-level body of work. This capstone experience serves as a bridge to the professional world, equipping students with a strong portfolio and a nuanced understanding of their place within the evolving design industry. (2018–2022).
BFA Thesis Advising
Undergraduate students work to advance their visual communication design undergraduate-level thesis work, producing a cohesive body of work that is exhibited in the university art galleries. Through research, studio visits, critical feedback, and iterative design processes, students refine their design interventions and conceptual body of research-creation before orally defending their ideas first in front of a committee of selected faculty and then before the entire art, art history, and design faculty (2018–2024).