Open Studio is staffed by members of the graphic design faculty in the School of Art. We can all help with any work you bring in, but it might be helpful for you to find someone who has taught the class you are looking for help with or who has an expertise in the type of project you are working on.
Who's Here
Alan Caballero LaZare Design History, Design Theory
When: Thursday 12–2pm
Alan has taught history of graphic design, visual communication theories, and graphic design methods and principles, and is currently teaching history of grpahic design and visual communication theories.
Ana Tobin Experiential Graphic Design, Motion Design, Package Design
When: Wednesday 1–3pm
Ana has taught, typography, graphic design at varying levels, web design, interactive media, UX/UI, and motion. She also has experience in exhibition, experiential, and accessible design. She is currently teaching senior design project and motion design. She believes you should try working in many different mediums because you might create something new and unexpected.
Juana Medina Rosas Illustration, Type, Motion, Books
When: Tuesday 11am–1pm
Juana has taught motion design, advanced typography, senior project, and editorial design. She is currently teaching illustration. Besides teaching, Juana writes and illustrates children’s books. If you enjoy podcasts, Juana recommends Design Matters. If you prefer TV, check out Reservation Dogs or We Are Lady Parts. If looking for books, Marina Abramović’s Walking Through Walls and James Baldwin’s Nobody Knows My Name would be two of her top picks.
Michael McDermott Motion, Web, Poster, Coding
When: Thursday 2–4pm
Michael has taught web design, motion design, design history, poster design, and is currently teaching package design and senior design project. If you have some down time, he recommends Ted Lasso and the Off Menu Podcast.
Miriam Ahmed Editorial, Writing, Print
When: Monday 7:30–9:30pm
Dr. Ahmed has taught foundations/2D design, editorial design, typography, packaging, UI/UX design, and is currently teaching professional design practices and writing for designers. She thinks that yes, you should definitely submit that project to a competition.
Rick Heffner Typography, Branding, Editorial, Print
When: Monday 11am–1pm
Rick has taught digital design studio, typography, advertising design, corporate design and branding, editorial design, and professional design practices and is currently teaching editorial design and advertising design. Rick’s favorite quotes: “Are you in love with that font? Crops and bleeds, please! Where’s your grid? Watch your margins. Spellcheck is your friend!”
Shanshan Cui Design History, Design Theory
When: Friday 11am–1pm
Alan has taught history of graphic design, visual communication theory, and graphic design methods and principles, and is currently teaching history of grpahic design and visual communication theory.
Don Starr Typography, Branding, Advertising
When: Spring hours coming soon
Don has taught almost every design class at Mason, specializing in brand design and is a Adobe® Certified Type Nerd, both digital and analog via letterpress printing. If needed, Don would be glad to help with any QuarkXPress project, just ask.
Pierre Bowins Typography, Branding
When: Wednesday 11am–1pm
Pierre has taught fundamentals/2D design, digital media, illustration, and multiple levels of graphic design and is currently teaching advanced typography and history of graphic design. He believes the computer is just one of the many tools to consider within a design solution.