An interdisciplinary designer and educator with over a decade of experience teaching design, technology, and creative strategy at the university level and through professional workshops.
With an MFA in Graphic Design from MICA and a Design Teaching Certificate, I bring real-world industry experience from founding Workhorse design studio and working with organizations ranging from advocacy groups to cultural institutions.
I believe in learning through practice and collaboration. My teaching approach combines strategic thinking with hands-on application, connecting theory, history, and contemporary practice to help students develop their own design voice.
Strategic positioning, audience research, brand architecture, and storytelling frameworks for building meaningful brands.
Typography, color theory, grid systems, and creating cohesive visual identities that work across platforms.
HTML, CSS, JavaScript, responsive design, frameworks like Bootstrap, and modern web development workflows.
User research, wireframing, prototyping, usability testing, and interface design for web and mobile applications.
Animation, transitions, microinteractions, and creating engaging experiences with JavaScript frameworks and APIs.
An interdisciplinary approach combining design and storytelling principles to create meaningful connections between brand identity, visual systems, and business objectives.
MFA in Graphic Design
Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), 2010-2012
Design Teaching Certificate
Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), 2011
Coursework focused on pedagogy, theory, design thinking methods, and research
BS in Human Biology
The University of Texas at Austin, 2000-2005
Adjunct Professor
George Mason University, Spring 2016
Developed and taught courses on Web Design, Usability, and UX/UI principles. Created interdisciplinary curricula connecting theory, history, and contemporary digital practices. Led workshops on HTML, CSS, JavaScript, version control, and iterative design.
Graduate Assistant
Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), 2010-2011
Supported course development for Design for Advertising and Electronic Media and Culture. Led weekly studio discussions on design principles, theory, and techniques.
Detailed course outlines and curricula developed for universities, workshops, and training programs. Each syllabus can be customized for your organization's needs.
AVT 217
An introduction to web design standards as a successful tool in design communication. Students gain hands-on experience with design issues specific to web presentations, learn page layout and effective navigation, and explore the complete design process.
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AVT 415
Advanced course in interactive design and development, focusing on user experience, interface design, and interactive media. Students create sophisticated web applications and interactive experiences using modern frameworks and design methodologies.
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Half-day to multi-day intensive sessions focused on specific skills or projects. Ideal for teams or small groups looking to level up their design capabilities.
Speaking engagements for design programs, conferences, and creative organizations on topics ranging from brand strategy to digital craft.
Interested in a workshop or speaking opportunity? Let's discuss how we can work together.