One of the t-shirts I designed for TikTok videos (photo: Dan Cuffaro)
2023-24 | ReThink
CIA Teaching:
2nd Year ID Studio (3cr - FA), Marketing & Design (3cr - FA), 4th Year ID Studio (3cr - FA) 3rd Year ID Studio (6cr - SP), 4th Year ID Studio (3cr - SP), Chair Release.
Ran version 2 of the m.power project with three students. Their campaigns were compelling, but not successful.
CIA Service:
Planned the Design Studio clean-up and set-up.
Worked with Adam Lucas and Scott Richardson on Design Studio Planning, and tried to advise them throughout the year (as new members of the CIA Community).
Met with Admissions/Marketing (Summer 2023) with a plan to increase ID awareness, primarily through social media. Began creating TikTok & Instagram content, including planning topics, writing scripts, purchasing props, shoot, editing and posting about 50 videos. The posts have been viewed over 13,000 times. Included designing and making my own CIA t-shirts (DE216N t-shirt pictured).
Spent significant time planning future ID curriculum, participating in the overall Design Redesign discussions and participating in meetings related to the restructure.
Arranged a LoF visit by Tobias France of Hyundai-Kia (grew up in the Cleveland inner city and has worked throughout the country and world).
Actively worked with Matthew McKenna and Jared Bendis on resolution of the IML design and capabilities. Additionally, worked closely with Vocon and Peter Bohan answering questions and resolving details, and participated in MCC meetings and events. Also met with prospective donors and partners, and built an architectural model intended to raise awareness of the project. Finally, was interviewed for the MCC promo video.
Proposed ProjectXR - an effort to leverage existing courses to complete a sci-fi short by May of 2025 (the semester the IML opens). Began planning with the encouragement of Matthew McKenna.
Visited ‘Walk Your Plans’ in Lakewood, to assess competitive services (to the IML)
At the request of the President and VPs, met with the State Legislature, the Lozick Foundation, Dan T. Moore and the Davis College Team.
Represented CIA at the unveiling of the Schreckengost installation at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.
Met with the Interim Director of Studio Operations and the Fabrication Studios Team to assess the Mobile Prototype Lab and plan a Rapid Prototype Lab in the former spray mount space. This included creating 3D CAD drawings of the space/changes and specifying/picking up furnishings and finishes.
Search committee member for the CWRU think[box] Executive Director, which involved nearly 2-dozen interviews and meetings and CIA facility tours for finalists.
Met with CWRU Professor Henry Adams (who is a design historian and Viktor Schreckengost expert) to plan future CIA/CWRU collaboration.
Met with Matt Beckwith to assist with Foundation Studio Discovery planning and provided Glowforge training / access to faculty and students outside of ID.
Worked with CECO on summer programing, which included Prop Design for Young Jedi. Including recruiting the instructor (Erica Kraus) and mentoring them.
Participated in all Open Houses, Accepted Student Events and met with the Admissions team to share information about the ID program.
Met individually with at least four prospective students (and families) to give tours and answer questions.
Worked with Institutional Advancement on the GM and Stellantis Grants, and participated in visits/reviews with the respective design teams.
Reestablished NAC/US Army Relationship with the goal of securing a funded project. This included ongoing communication and hosting a visit.
Facilitated visits with Ken & Quan Jasinski (alums from Microsoft/Seattle), Matthew Bowden (Cardinal Health) and Tobias France (Hyundai-Kia). I also took time to respond to or meet with graduates who expressed concerns about the pausing of the Interior Architecture Program.
Attended IDSA events.
Met with Magnet team members to discuss future collaboration (especially related to m.power).
Planned the 2024-25 budget & schedules, attended chair & faculty meetings and participated in Commencement.
Ongoing support of division chair activities.
Assisted with the Auto Show Exhibit, visited by nearly 10,000 people.
Assisted with Spring Design Show planning & promotion.
Committees: IML Advisory, Interior Architecture Faculty Search (cancelled), Design Studio Technician Search.
Professional:
Participated in the CIA Faculty Exhibition.
Developed products for DAP (part of RPM International), including research and ideation for 7 new products.
Lectured, CWRU Biomedical Engineering Students (Matt Williams) – Ergonomics & Interfaces.
Developed and tested prototypes for the nCamp folding fire pit.
Awarded 3 Patents: 11,974,695 (May 7, 2024), D1,005,026 (Nov 21, 2023), D1,001,612 (Oct 17, 2023)
While in Europe, visited the Vitra Design Museum in Germany.
Winner, PITA 2023 Tool Innovation for the DAP Wall & Ceiling Spray Texture.
Created AI summary document as a reference for Design Faculty.
Developed a proposal for the former Lakewood Hospital site (a large undeveloped property in the heart of the city). This included developing a site plan, massing study and concept renderings, then meeting with city council members and community leaders.
Committed time to experimenting with design-related Artificial Intelligence Tools and on virtual production training (for the IML XR Studio).
Media:
Featured, Ideastream.org (May 13, 2024) – “Cleveland Institute of Art helping make student products – and career paths – a reality” (Ideastream)
Quoted, Cleveland.com (Nov 18, 2023) – “Viktor Schreckengost’s Beloved ‘Time and Space’ sculptures go back on view at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport” (Cleveland.com)
Quoted, Packaging Dive (Oct 3, 2023) – “Designers look for ways to address hard-to-open packaging” (Packaging Dive)
Quoted, Crain’s Cleveland Business (Jul 24, 2023) – “Cleveland Institute of Art helps shape the future of auto design” (Crain's)
Misc:
International Housewares Competition Awards – Wyatt Guthrie (Honorable Mention).
Kickstarter Projects We Love - Cordelia Wright for OPAL.
Added An Anthology of Blackness (co-edited by Omari Souza) to my personal library, which I now regularly reference.