19 Oct

Posted at 19:46h in Research & Scholarship

This month, our department came together to share our research practices using the PechaKucha 20x20 format. In Japanese, PechaKucha means "chit chat," and the structure asks presenters to show 20 images, each for 20 seconds. The images forward automatically, and the presenter speaks along to the series of pictures. In other words, each faculty member had 400 seconds to tell their research story, with visuals guiding the way. Intrigued? If so,...

28 Aug

Posted at 19:17h in Research & Scholarship

Like many academics this year, the Summer of COVID-19 has been one for the history books. Each of us has been challenged personally and professionally in ways we never expected. We are at a crossroads of many, forging ahead and yet blind to the precise path before us. This journey’s highs and lows, particularly regarding social justice, remain essential to the work we do in the classroom. It is an exciting...

24 Feb

Posted at 11:26h in Research & Scholarship

This February, the College Art Association (CAA) Conference brought together scholars and creatives from a range of disciplines to discuss art and design practice, education, history, and futures. During this four-day event, Kelly and I were proud to participate in two inspiring sessions that highlighted the power of design to make meaningful differences in people’s lives. The first panel, "Diversifying Diversity: Addressing Marginalized Global Communities through Design," was chaired by Yelena...

01 Oct

Posted at 15:15h in Research & Scholarship

I am excited to announce that the book I have been working on with Kelly M. Murdoch-Kitt is available for pre-order! "Intercultural Collaboration by Design" introduces a framework for collaborating across cultures and features charming illustrations by illustrator Tammi Heneveld. This handbook helps people work, learn, and teach across cultures. Through the activities highlighted in this book, virtual and intercultural teams will find a practical route for initiating and sustaining productive...

20 Jul

Posted at 14:22h in Research & Scholarship

I was absolutely charmed by Spanish hospitality this July when I visited the city of Madrid for the IAMCR (International Association for Media and Communication Research) Conference. The central theme of this year's conference was Communication, Technology, and Human Dignity: Disputed Rights, Contested Truths. The opening ceremony was held at the Cibeles Palace, home to Madrid City Hall, which is covered with an immense glass dome. The venue served as...

07 Jun

Posted at 12:56h in Research & Scholarship

The MODE Summit in New Zealand was an absolute blast this past week! MODE is a gathering of design educators and researchers who specialize in the area of motion design. The theme for the 2019 edition was (inter)play, the way in which two or more things have an effect on each other. Held at Massey University's Toi Rauwhārangi College of Creative Arts, the Summit was an inspiring three days of...

27 Apr

Posted at 17:13h in Research & Scholarship

I am so grateful to this incredible group of people for dedicating their time and creative energy to the workshop series “Reimagining Health & Safety Communication for Multilingual Workers in Qatar.” What an honor it has been to work together to examine, discuss, and design for inclusive and accessible health, safety, and wellness. You are ALL superstars in my eyes!! Goals of the workshop included: Support construction workers from diverse linguistic...

16 Mar

Posted at 10:19h in Research & Scholarship

I am genuinely sad to see Tasmeem 2019 come to a close! It has been a fantastic three-days of inspiring speakers, engaging workshops, and fun activities—led by four incredible women, who also happen to be VCUarts Qatar alumnae! They did an exceptional job bringing together a lineup of speakers with tremendous heart and soul, curating numerous exhibitions, and working with designers across our spatial and graphic worlds to make the conference...

24 Oct

Posted at 19:46h in Research & Scholarship

The Information+ Conference 2018 was absolutely inspiring! This inter­disciplinary platform brought together a fantastic lineup of speakers who explored a range of historic and future practices in information design and data visualization. The entire event was thoughtful, inclusive, and beyond informative! I can’t remember the last time I attended a conference where the entire audience remained engaged in productive exchanges from the first keynote to the very end. It was indeed...

05 Oct

Posted at 19:50h in Research & Scholarship

I am still recovering from jet-lag but wanted to share just a few thoughts about the fun I had this past week at AIGA Decipher 2018. There was so much great energy from all the speakers, participants, and keynotes—it's hard to know where to begin. One of the outstanding sessions I attended was the activity group “Critical Race Design Studies: Exploring Practical Approaches and New Opportunities in Design Curriculum” led by Nikita...

30 Jun

Posted at 20:42h in Research & Scholarship

I had the distinct opportunity to participate in the PhD by Design event this June, a one-day event held prior to the DRS 2018 (Design Research Society) Conference in Limerick, Ireland (June 25-28, 2018). This event was established as a vehicle to vocalize, discuss, and work through some of the many issues of conducting a practice-based Ph.D. in Design. I sincerely enjoyed the opportunity to meet so many great people working...

11 Jun

Posted at 18:36h in Research & Scholarship

It was a privilege to take part in the MAKE: AIGA Design Educators Conference at Herron School of Art + Design in beautiful Indianapolis this week (June 7-9, 2018). The conference was an opportunity for design educators, researchers, and practitioners to come together to establish a space to explore the full complexity of making and its applications within today’s social and political contexts. [gallery link="file" size="full" ids="9311,9309,9310"] I really enjoyed getting to...

16 May

Posted at 12:20h in Research & Scholarship, Service

Wow! I had an amazing time in Guana (Egypt) over the past four days serving as a mentor, workshop leader, and speaker at Vested Summit (May 9-12, 2018)! It was an honor to get to know the conscious tech community—a diverse group of startups, investors, designers, and developers working together to make conscious choices, conduct business responsibly, find an inner drive, and build happiness. “The future is already here—it’s just not very evenly distributed.”...

16 Apr

Posted at 12:59h in Research & Scholarship

Last week, Kelly Murdoch-Kitt and I were honored to be featured in a podcast produced by the College Art Association (CAA)! The weekly CAA Conversations Podcast explores arts and pedagogy, tackling everything from the day-to-day grind to the big, universal questions of the field. Episode 29 of the series features myself and Kelly Murdoch-Kitt, (Assistant Professor at University of Michigan’s Stamps School of Art and Design) discussing our virtual cross-cultural collaborations...

21 Oct

Posted at 09:26h in Research & Scholarship

The annual AIGA (the professional association for design) design conference has consistently provided an opportunity for the design community to make connections through inspiring presentations, networking events, and educational sessions. The 2017 conference title “connect” went on to reflect the importance of fostering meaningful connections with other designers and across design work. It was great to see so much engagement and commitment to the idea of inclusion within the conference. According to Tina...

06 Sep

Posted at 17:31h in Research & Scholarship

During the Eid al-Adha break, I had the opportunity to visit Limassol for the three-day Advanced Media Institute Conference (AMIRetreat 2017). It was both an opportunity to engage in dynamic conversations about “Journalism, Society and Politics in the Digital Media Era,” but also to enjoy some rest and relaxation in this lovely Cyprian city. The interdisciplinary conference was held at the Cyprus University of Technology and brought together an inspiring mix...

02 Jun

Posted at 23:21h in Research & Scholarship

Just a few short days after our commencement ceremonies at VCUArts Qatar, I jumped on a plane headed to Michigan to participate in the "Sustainability and Social Science Research Symposium." The conference was held at the University of Michigan (U of M) in cooperation with the Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme (IUSDRP), Manchester Metropo2litan University, HAW Hamburg and a number of institutions active in this field. The symposium provided a multidisciplinary overview of...

27 Mar

Posted at 19:31h in Research & Scholarship

This March, I was humbled by the invitation to participate in the Riwaq Al Fikr event on the topic of “Design for Social Change” with keynote guest speaker, Jessica Walsh, partner at Sagmeister & Walsh. Sponsored by the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF) and Zayed University, this panel discussion was part of the Abu Dhabi Festival 2017: Culture and Tolerance. I was pleased to invite graphic design student, Amira...