Experiential Learning opportunities

Most recently, I took my LCCC Design Thinking students to MetroHealth to meet with Dr. John Carter, MD, a specialist in Pulmonary, Sleep, and Critical Care at MetroHealth Sleep Medicine. In preparation for the visit, my students researched sleep-related issues and prepared thoughtful questions to guide our discussion. Dr. Carter helped demystify the science of sleep and emphasized just how critical it is to our overall health. Our students explored how design thinking can drive the creation or innovation of new products to support individuals with sleep challenges or disorders.

In previous semesters, we also had the pleasure of meeting with Terry Schwarz at the Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative (CUDC) in Cleveland, OH. The CUDC is part of the College of Architecture and Environmental Design at Kent State University. Our students had been investigating how design thinking might contribute to better planning for mass immigration and help mitigate the impact of excessive heat caused by global warming in urban spaces. This trip offered a chance to tour the space and discuss the work CUDC has been doing with city and state officials related to climate change.

Additionally, my Graphic Design III students had the opportunity to tour Lake Erie Graphics in Brook Park, OH. Jim Dietz was gracious enough to give our students an in-depth tour of their facilities and walk us through their production capabilities. This experience underscored the importance of properly preparing and supplying print files for professional output.

Student Trips to New York City

I had the amazing experience of creating—and securing funding for—two student trips to the Big Apple through Coastal Carolina University in 2019 and 2020. Graphic Design majors submitted an essay and created a promotional postcard for a competitive chance to attend.

While in New York, our students visited local art and design museums, including Cooper Hewitt, The Met, and The Guggenheim. They had the opportunity to speak with accomplished designers at Pentagram, Paul Sahre, and the crew at Funeral in Brooklyn. They toured the AIGA archives and explored the deep history of our industry, and even participated in a book-making workshop at The Center for Book Arts, where they learned how to lock up type and use a type-high letterpress.