Teaching & Education
Teaching Philosophy
I believe understanding the web— and the difference between online and print media— is critical to a communication design education. For students interested in becoming better web designers, learning aesthetic principles along with technical practices and web production is what makes a student a better designer. In a competitive market, a designer needs to have a basic understanding of the different design considerations inherent in a variety of media — the web, motion graphics, and interactive design.
Like print design, web design follows a specified process involving analysis, creative design, and technical production. Unlike print, web design is often a team effort that requires a group of individuals who specialize in particular areas. As a designer, though you may not be required to play a role in the technical production for the project, the more you understand — including what is involved in the technical process, the more you’ll contribute to the success of the project overall.
As a teacher, I encourage my students to increase their design skills by doing as much web work as possible and to study and analyze other designers’ work frequently. I believe, as is certainly true with design in general, there is no better teacher than the experience you get by practicing it, by doing it as often as you can — hopefully, everyday.
