Educational experiences outside the Kansas classroom. Study Abroad, short courses, and city visits. 


A part of my commitment to educating the designers of future is getting them out of the classroom and when possible out of Kansas. 



Typography and Printmaking, Italy: Summer Session

Three weeks to Italy in places such as Venice, Cornuda, Turin, Milan, and Florance. Touring sites such as The Last Supper, the cemetery in Milan with James Clough, visiting museums, and participating in a hands-on workshop at the Tipoteca Italian Foundation in Corunda with Lucio Passerin. Students design, handset hot metal type, print and assemble a small publication. :: information session pdf

Tipoteca workshop, 2022  
publications: 2022, 2018, 2016, 2014, 2012, 2010
student documentation


Trier, Germany: Semester program

Faculty advisor for the Trier University of Applied Sciences exchange program. Students spend a semester taking design classes, exploring the country, and learning about the culture. Trier was founded more than 2,000 years ago and is the oldest city in Germany. It was home to six Roman emperors and has many Roman ruins including the impressive Porta Nigra, a four-story structure that was once part of the city's walls. Trier is in the western state of Rhineland-Palatinate near the border with Luxembourg and less than a 30-minute drive from France and Belgium. 


East Palo Alto, CA

Winter 2019. Short Course. Cross-Disciplinary course held in East Palo Alto, CA. Seven Design and Architecture students spent 10 days in East Palo Alto working with the non-profit Live in Peace. Met with the client, designed and presented to over 65 high school, college students, and staff branding directions for their three educational programs. 

Winter 2018. Short Course. Cross-Disciplinary course held in East Palo Alto, CA. 10 Architecture and Design students spent 14 days in East Palo Alto, CA working with the non-profit Live in Peace. The recently gutted warehouse space was transformed into a working community bike shop call 2524 Raven Riders. The students spent their first days building benches, painting the space, and designing and organizing the bike shop. Next, they learned how to take apart a bike, fix it, paint it, put it back together, and teach someone else how to do it. The Visual Communication Design students were busy creating the visual identity.


The recently gutted warehouse space was transformed into a working community bike shop called 2524 Raven Riders, East Palo Alto, CA



Greensboro, AL

Winter 2016/2017. Short Course. Cross-Disciplinary course held in Greensboro, Alabama. 12 Design students spent 14 days in Greenboro proto-typing, testing, and building push bikes (the SideKick) for toddlers and stand-up paddle boards. Co-directed the class with Industrial Design Professor Lance Rake. Hale Empowerment and Revitalization Organization (HERO) works as a catalyst for community development to end rural poverty in the Alabama Black Belt, Hale County.

Winter 2014/2015. Short Course. Cross-Disciplinary course held in Greensboro, Alabama. 12 University of Kansas Students spent two weeks in Greensboro, AL weaving, prototyping, and testing skateboards woven out of bamboo. Beacon Alley brand was born. The work continued throughout the spring when the final two designs were refined and a successful Kickstarter campaign was launched. Proceeds went to HERO. Co-taught the class with Industrial Design Professor Lance Rake. Hale Empowerment and Revitalization Organization.

Summer 2014. Short Course. Cross-Disciplinary course held in Greensboro, Alabama. A cross-disciplinary group of students spent 2 weeks living and working together on the development of a bicycle using existing bikes and bamboo. Co-directed the class with Industrial Design Professor Lance Rake. Hale Empowerment and Revitalization Organization

Winter 2013/2014. Short Course. Cross-Disciplinary course held in Greensboro, Alabama. A cross-disciplinary group of 10 University of Kansas Students spent two weeks in Greensboro, AL. Co-taught the class with Industrial Design Professor Lance Rake. Hale Empowerment and Revitalization Organization.

Summer 2013. Short Course. Cross-Disciplinary course held in Greensboro, Alabama. A cross-disciplinary group of students spent 3 weeks living and working together on the development of a bicycle using existing bikes and bamboo. Co-directed the class with Industrial Design Professor Lance Rake. Hale Empowerment and Revitalization Organization.



Greensboro, AL weaving, prototyping, testing, and branding bamboo hand-woven skateboards.

Greensboro, AL. SideKick. Because every HERO needs a sidekick



Senior Problems/Corporate Partners
Worked with Tim Galles, Chief Idea Officer, Barkley, Kansas City. Tim has run a Designing for Good course for KU students out of  Barkley in Kansas City. Each student creates a unique project that uses Design for good focused on a topic the student is passionate about. And create a full presentation and proposal to make the idea live in the real world. Other senior problems partnerships have been with Hallmark Cards, DMH, Bernstein-Rein and Willoughby Design.


National Student Show Dallas, TX
Annually organize. hotel and accompany 16 – 22 students to the National Student Show. Worked with the students on preparing their portfolios,  individual and group entries. Typically, Design entered more than 300 entries. The University of Kansas was awarded Best School in 2019, 2016, 2014, 2013, and 2012. Students take home several Best of Categories, including best portfolios in the Senior, Junior, and Sophomore categories. KU Visual Communication sophomores were recognized for the best sophomore portfolio every year since the conference started in 2009. 



Engaged Scholarship
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