What CCA gave me over the last 13 years

California College of the Arts has played a monumental role in my career and life.

I've had opportunities to teach (and learn from) so many students and faculty over the last 13 years.

The last few weeks, I've taken stock of the work I've been able to accomplish.

💫 Transitional to Professional Practice
Mark Fox brought me in to revamp the TPP class in the Graphic Design department. I developed a no non-sense curriculum to prepare students for the real world: interview techniques, portfolio building, job searching, and more. I never sugar coated anything. My goal was to equip students with what they would actually face in the real world and how to handle it. It's been great to see many of my students go on to work at great companies and studios around the world.

💫 Secret Project
An experimental class I co-founded with John Bielenberg that welcomed all design majors. We taught students how to apply the Think Wrong process to social impact work. Because of Secret Project, I was able to take students to Utah, Alabama, and Taiwan to work with trusted organizations while they were exposed to new communities and places.

💫 Climate Designers
Soon after launching Climate Designers, I knew I wanted to teach a class on the topic. Rachel Berger gave me the green light to create a curriculum. Since then, I've taught the class in the Graphic Design and Interaction Design undergrad departments and grad programs. The class allowed me to learn from students and bring insights back to the larger organization, and vice versa.

💫 Social Lab
When Sarah Harrison and I were running The Determined, we were brought into the MDes Interaction Design department by Kristian Simsarian ❤️ to run the second half of Social Lab. We brought our creative processes and insights from our work and clients into the program. Fast forward, I've been working with Elena Pacenti, the current chair of the program. She encouraged me to bring a climate-centered focus to my class. Last year, we covered "climate resiliency". This upcoming cohort will focus on "climate & culture".

Since 2013, CCA has allowed me to show up authentically. I bring my values inside of every class I teach, encouraging young and new designers to use their talents to creative positive change in the world.

During my time there, I've befriended many instructors and students over the years, some of which resulted in collaborative projects inside and outside of CCA. I've spoken at conferences, been interviewed on podcasts, and have had my work highlighted at a global scale. A lot of this is due to teaching at CCA.

Now, I enter my last stretch, teaching the final cohort in the MDes program. Come AUG, I will end my Senior Adjunct position at the school.

If you are an educator interested in bringing in any of the classes listed above to your program/department, get in touch.

Our world is full of challenges and opportunities. Let's educate the next wave of design leaders.

Onward.

More on the closing of CCA