VIRTUAL New Schools of Thought
Abstract
Few areas of study occupy as many modes of education as graphic design. While certifications or associate degrees address production roles, they do not support roles in higher education and research. Furthermore, the debate over advanced degrees in the field, their purpose, importance, construction, and naming, remains ongoing. Many candidates seek our program to pursue roles in academia, highlighting the need for pedagogical support that prepares them to be successful scholars. Graduate education must prepare students to engage in complex disciplinary conversations and confidently question pedagogical and research norms to ensure the continued progress of the discipline. We propose a multi-modal approach centered around transparency and graduate student inclusion. Faculty agree that transparency is essential in higher education (Ewell, 2005). Through focused coursework, unique graduate assistantships, and mentorship, we aim to demystify how higher education operates and how to participate effectively. We find that the epistemology of design pedagogy is directly tied to the evolution of the graphic design discipline. As a program, we engage in these inquiries transparently with graduate students, whether in their design pedagogy and leadership seminars or through conversations tied to their assistantships. To move graphic design beyond craft, art, trade, or industry, graduate programs must consider their structure and the definition of their knowledge and operational systems. We use the study of pedagogy to guide graduate students toward advanced research and teaching orientations that construct new knowledge in the field (Littlejohn, 2022) and produce educators capable of critiquing what and how we teach and research.
Marty Maxwell Lane’s research critically examines leadership, design pedagogy, and collaborative practices to reveal more intentional ways of approaching how we work, learn, and build community. Her book, Collaboration in Design Education, was published in 2020 by Bloomsbury. She is currently an Associate Professor of Graphic Design in the School of Art at the University of Arkansas, where she also served as the Director of the School. Marty has served on numerous AIGA boards, including Co-Chair of the DEC, the National Board, and currently as an advisor for the NW Arkansas Chapter.
Bree McMahon is a designer and educator driven by complex topics and dialogical strategies that foster conversation, critical perspective, and collective learning. She is an assistant professor of graphic design at the University of Arkansas School of Art and the director of graduate studies for the Master of Design in Communication Design program. Her research includes design pedagogy, the state of the design discipline, maternal health, health literacy, and storytelling. Prior to teaching, she worked with start-ups, small businesses, and non-profits. She holds an M.G.D. from North Carolina State University and degrees in graphic design and art history from Carthage College.
9:00 am - 10:30 am
Friday 10th January, 2025