Professor McConnell
I designed two 20-student senior seminars on UX design and branding campaigns as an Adjunct Professor of Design at Western Washington University's Design BFA Program, in addition to supporting courses in typography, storytelling, and core principles of the Adobe Creative Suite.
- Role: Adjunct Professor of Design
- Company: Western Washington University, Department of Graphic Design
- Timeline: 2023–2025
Returning to the Source #
I had the opportunity to teach at my alma mater for a couple of years, including general design courses on typography and storytelling as well as senior seminars on interaction design and branding. This experience was remarkable. To reflect on my own creative growth on the two-hour drive to campus provided perspective on my own life, but to also return to the classroom that set a foundation for it was a positive challenge.
What parts of this education were beneficial? What parts were not? How do I determine what is, and how do I shape those experiences for another generation? I'm not sure I could have been more prepared to face these questions in the moment, because I was processing them and teaching them at the same time. This created a more active learning and working environment that I built around being a creative studio rather than strict assignments and rubrics.
Running the Studio #
I was the primary lecturer responsible for creating and maintaining a schedule of lessons, assignments, writing individual feedback, organizing group critique, and managing the focus of a room of students. I was given much support and resources from the fulltime staff, of whom I am forever grateful, and guidance as a first-time teacher.
Workshops & Guest Artists #
In addition to my own lectures, I organized nine former colleagues as guest speakers to share hands-on work from the full range of directions a graduate can go. This exposure to creative professionals was helpful to many students who hadn't yet witnessed what it was they had gotten themselves into.
Lettering workshop by Benjamin Hubbard
Bringing the Field into the Room #
