Master of Fine Arts in Design

Featured MFA Faculty

MFA Leadership

Erik A. Evensen, MFA | AIGA, IDSA, CSS Professor of Design + Program Director, MFA in Design

Robert Fraher, MFA, PhD(c) | AIGA, ACM Professor, Graphic Design & Interactive Media

Professor Fraher is an award-winning designer, interactive developer, and creative producer. Robert’s research explores interface design as a context for emotional and cognitive engagement, individual expression, and community involvement. Professor Fraher has been honored as the Dahlgren Professor and as a University Research Fellow. He teaches Design Education & Practice.

MFA, DESIGN: VISUAL COMMUNICATION DESIGN The Ohio State University

POST-BACCALAUREATE CERTIFICATE, STUDIO ART SMFA at Tufts University

BA, STUDIO ART: DRAWING & PAINTING University of New Hampshire

Erik Evensen is a Professor of Design and director of the MFA program. His creative work, research, and teaching focus on the synthesis of illustration and visual communication design—his course load has included studio courses in design drawing, illustration, concept art, graphic design, and typography. He began his career as a graphic designer and illustrator in the Boston area, with works honored by Graphic Design USA and the Print Excellence and Knowledge (PEAK) Awards. He has a number of design credits in the entertainment industry, including the New Hampshire Film Festival, Manhattan Short Film Festival, the award-winning documentary Dirty Country, the short films Glue Man, Star and the Snowman, and Discrepancy, and comedy tours for the Found Footage Festival and Chris Hardwick. As an illustrator, his comics industry credits include the “Ghostbusters” and “Back to the Future” comic series from IDW Publishing, and the Xeric-winning graphic novel Gods of Asgard, the definitive comics adaptation of the Norse myths, which has been the subject of many academic papers and adopted as a textbook at several universities. He is the art director, game artist, and co-producer for the tabletop games Marrying Mr. Darcy and Distilled . Erik has presented at and reviewed for academic conferences sponsored by the Design and Emotion Society, IASDR, MODE Summit, AIGA, the Congress of Medieval Studies, M+DEV: Midwest GameDev Conference, and the Polytechnic Summit. A former student of Design Research pioneer Liz Sanders, his academic research on educational board game design is a featured case study in her textbook, Convivial Toolbox: Generative Research for the Front End of Design. As an instructor, he has been recognized with the College of Arts & Human Sciences’ Outstanding Teaching Award, as a finalist for Outstanding Graduate Faculty, and as a Faculty Ally. As Program Director for the MFA, Erik serves as the main point of contact and primary academic advisor for all students in the program, and provides leadership on issues related to curriculum, assessment, outreach, and development. He regularly teaches courses in the program such as Design Seminars I & II, Research Strategies in Design, and Critical Issues in Design Education & Practice.

Wendy Jedlička, MIM, Ed.D(c) | CPP, SEA Senior Lecturer, Sustainable Design

Professor Jedlicka is a leading global expert on sustainable design. Jedlička is the contributing editor of two books, including Packaging Sustainability and Sustainable Graphic Design , and the “Applied Sustainability” chapter author for Handbook of Sustainable Design. She teaches courses related to Design, Sustainability, and Entrepreneurship.

Julie E. Peterson, PhD | NCIDQ, WRID, WELL-AP Professor, Interior Design

Dr. Peterson spent half of her career in industry practice before transitioning to higher education. She specializes in lighting design, business practices, ethics, materials, finishes, codes, and specifications. She has been honored as Outstanding Graduate Faculty and as a University Research Fellow. Her current research explores a sense of place, community, and emotional well-being for students and how this was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Andrew Williams, PhD Professor, History of Design & Game Design

Andrew Williams is a Game Designer, Creative Director, and Games Historian. Dr. Williams’ research includes projects related to Games and History as both a historian and creative producer, including interactive exhibits at the Minnesota History Center, the Akron Art Museum, as Art Director for ImmersionED, and the digital game Witness to the Revolution. He is the author of History of Digital Games: Developments in Art, Design and Interaction , and teaches History of Design Seminar and various Game Design courses.

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