Master of Fine Arts in Design

MFA Core Faculty

MFA Leadership

Erik A. Evensen, MFA | AIGA, IDSA

Robert Fraher, MFA | AIGA Professor, Graphic Design

MFA in Design: Visual Communication Design & Design Research The Ohio State University

Post-baccalaureate Certificate in Studio Art School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University

BA in Studio Art: Drawing & Painting University of New Hampshire

Professor Fraher is an award-winning designer and interactive developer. Robert’s research explores interface design as a context for emotional and cognitive engagement, individual expression, and community involvement. honors : University Research Fellow, Dahlgren Professor MFA teaching: Design Education & Practice, Design Seminar II

Erik Evensen is an Associate Professor in the Department 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. 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 also the game artist and co-producer for the tabletop games Marrying Mr. Darcy and Distilled . He has presented at and reviewed for academic conferences sponsored by the Design and Emotion Society, IASDR, MODE Summit, AIGA, the Congress of Medieval Studies, and the Polytechnic Summit. A student of Design Research pioneer Liz Sanders, Erik’s 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 UW-Stout’s Outstanding Teaching Award, as a finalist for Outstanding Graduate Faculty, and by the QUBE 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 Seminar I, Design Seminar II, Research Strategies in Design, and Design Education & Practice.

Wendy Jedlicka, MIM, Ed.D(c) | CPP, ISSP-SA Senior Lecturer, Sustainable Design

Professor Jedlicka is a leading global expert on sustainable design. books : Packaging Sustainability (Wiley), Sustainable Graphic Design (Wiley), Handbook of Sustainable Design (Routledge). MFA teaching: Sustainable Design Practice, Design Seminar II, Sustainable Design II: Global Impact

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. honors : Outstanding Graduate Faculty, University Research Fellow MFA teaching: Ethics in Design, Research Strategies, Design Seminar II

Andrew Williams, PhD Professor, History of Design

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, and the digital game Witness to the Revolution. books : History of Digital Games: Developments in Art, Design and Interaction MFA teaching: History of Design Seminar, Game Design & Design History

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