Expanding Disciplinary Perspectives and Experiences
Master of Design (MDes)
I am a graduate of the College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning (DAAP) at University of Cincinnati with a Master of Design (MDes) degree from the School of Design. Focusing on the intersection of design and branding, specific coursework included:
As an instructor with the UC Forward initiative, I chaired the university-wide faculty Innovation Council, coordinated a comprehensive faculty innovation workgroup initiative and co-instructed multiple sections of a multidisciplinary undergraduate course, offered through the University Honors Program. UC Forward is envisioned as the platform for collaborative innovation—activating, coordinating and assessing multidisciplinary and multi-institutional collaborative learning experiences.
I was selected as the first design graduate assistant with DAAP’s Center for the Electronic Reconstruction of Historical and Archaeological Sites (CERHAS). My work at the interdisciplinary research and media lab focused on leveraging consumer branding knowledge to market the Ancient Ohio Trail as a historical tourism destination.
Teaching Experience:
- Instructor, 2024 Digital Media Collaborative—Business of Design
- Instructor, 2024 Digital Media Collaborative—Design Skills for Media
- Instructor, 2023 Digital Media Collaborative—Design Skills for Media
- Instructor, 2022 Digital Media Collaborative—Design Skills for Media
- Instructor, 2021 Digital Media Collaborative—Design Skills for Media
- Instructor, 2020 Digital Media Collaborative—Design Skills for Media
- Instructor, 2012 UC Honors Program—Inquiry to Innovation
- Instructor, 2012 UC Cincinnatus Scholarship—Innovation Workshop
- Lecturer, 2012 UC DAAP Pre Junior Industrial Design—Branding and Packaging
- Participant, 2012 UC CET&L Pedagogical Preparation Seminar
- Coordinator, 2011-12 UC Forward Faculty Workgroup
- Practicum, 2011 UC DAAP Sophomore Digital Design
- Practicum, 2011 UC DAAP Pre Junior Graphic Design
- Lecturer, 2011 UC DAAP Pre Junior Industrial Design—Branding and Packaging
- Professional Resource, 2011 UC DAAP Live Well Collaborative
- Lecturer, 2011 UC College of Business Honors Plus—Branding
- Reviewer, 2010 UC Senior Digital and Graphic Capstone
- Reviewer, 2010 UC Junior Digital Design Projects
Participated in the following interdisciplinary, sponsored studios:
- Center for Design Research and Innovation (Smucker’s)
- Live Well Collaborative (P&G Oral Care, Kraft Foods)
- Designnovation Industrial Design Studio (MeadWestvaco)
- MS Marketing Design Thinking (The Brandery)
Additionally—working with UC’s College of Business—I led a graduate level MS-Marketing Capstone project, focused on prepared foods in the grocery channel.
The School of Design offers the Master of Design degree through a two-year program intended for students with undergraduate degrees and work experience in digital design, fashion design, graphic design, or industrial design. The School faculty support advanced work in each of these disciplines, and interdisciplinary graduate research is also encouraged.
Interdisciplinary graduate seminars and studios provide an opportunity to explore issues of common concern to all professional design fields, such as sustainable design, universal design, design and identity, and design and consumerism.
