Teaching

As a visual communication educator, I carry with me Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's wisdom in my approach to teaching: "If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people together to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea." It is my firm belief that the true potential of a student lies not in their ability to complete assignments but in their passion and longing to explore, innovate, and break barriers in their chosen fields, in this case, visual communication.

I approach my role as an educator with a dynamic equilibrium between lectures and practice while fostering an environment that promotes creativity, risk-taking, and personal growth. A successful classroom, in my perspective, recognizes our shared humanity and the diverse experiences that shape our ideas. By facilitating socially responsive understandings of communication, students are not merely passive recipients of information but actively engaged in crafting narratives, shaping language, and creating powerful imagery.

My methodology keeps evolving as the field of visual communication continues to morph and redefine itself. I strive to stay current with the latest trends and technologies, attend professional conferences, engage in industry discussions, and maintain strong ties with my professional network. These continuous learning experiences allow me to enrich my teaching with real-world insights and professional practices.

Experience has taught me the importance of authentic industry relationships. By fostering connections between students and professionals, I aim to create learning opportunities that extend beyond the confines of the classroom, providing a glimpse into the real-world dynamics of the visual communication industry. Activities such as studio visits, industry critiques, and internships are more than just experiences; they are stepping stones for students toward their future careers.

My classroom instruction includes a blend of lectures, demonstrations, critiques, individual and team-based projects, written and presentation work, and project-based experiences. Diversity in teaching methods keeps the classroom dynamic and caters to various learning styles. For skills-based courses, I supplement my in-class demonstrations with online resources, allowing students to review at their own pace and when needed.

Giving students the freedom to make individual choices in their projects encourages ownership and engagement. Balancing this with projects where clients are assigned provides a real-world scenario that trains them for the diverse challenges they may face in their careers. I believe in the power of iteration, allowing students to revisit their work post-critique, much like they would in a professional environment, to strive for constant improvement and not just settle for a grade.

Being an educator in the field of visual communication is more than a job to me; it's a passion, an opportunity to inspire my students and shape the future innovators of this industry. I aim to challenge my students, pushing them beyond their comfort zones and encouraging them to bring their unique identities into the creative landscape of visual communication. The ultimate goal is not to produce a fleet of students adept at sailing in calm waters but to empower a new generation of explorers, ready and longing for the endless immensity of the sea.

You can view work by my students in the instructor portfolio section of my site.