Mississippi State University Art Department | college instructor portfolio
For three years I worked as an art & design lecturer at Mississippi State University. I developed and taught the following freshman–senior level courses:
• Art Appreciation Online
• Design I
• Intro to Computing Art for Artists & Designers
• Intermediate Computing for Design
• Advanced Computer Studio for Fine Art [Self-Branding Studio]
Below are student work samples submitted in the courses in bold above. To view more student work in detail, please visit my teaching blog at brittanyspencer.wordpress.com.
*Note: I received permission from my students to feature their work on my website.
*Note: I received permission from my students to feature their work on my website.
At the end of this portfolio I also include my Teaching Philosophy and a collection of handwritten Student Evaluations.
Design I
Line compositions based on three student-chosen adjectives.
Medium: Micron pens ↓
Medium: Micron pens ↓
Geometric shape, organic shape, and combo compositions.
Medium: Cut paper ↓
Symmetrical, asymmetrical, radial, and repetitive balance compositions based on a song or poem.
Medium: Cut paper ↓
Found, rubbed, and created texture quilt block collages.
Medium: Mixed media ↓
Portion of magazine pages painted in grayscale.
Medium: Acrylic paint ↓
3D forms rotating and moving through space.
Medium: Acrylic paint ↓
Short films.
Medium: Stop motion animation ↓
CLASS COLLABORATION PUBLIC INSTALLATION: Mississippi State University Howell Hall entrance. Students hand-drew a large array of geometric and organic shapes that were laser cut into vinyl. Then students arranged the shapes onto the windows in an interesting fashion.
Medium: Laser cut vinyl stickers ↓
CLASS COLLABORATION PUBLIC INSTALLATION: Sudduth Elementary in Starkville, Mississippi. Two quotes were chosen by Sudduth Elementary staff. Each student presented a hand-drawn idea for each quote to school staff representatives who chose the winning designs. Designs were projected onto the classroom wall to scale, vinyl stickers were traced off, and then hand-cut by students. The students split into two groups to install the vinyl art onto the hallway windows.
Medium: Hand-cut vinyl stickers ↓
Intro to Computing Art for Artists & Designers
Vector illustration based on an idiom.
[Top left to bottom right: Pinching Pennies, Sleep Like a Rock, Easy as Pie, Flip the Bird, Clean as a Whistle, Eat Like a Bird]
[Top left to bottom right: Pinching Pennies, Sleep Like a Rock, Easy as Pie, Flip the Bird, Clean as a Whistle, Eat Like a Bird]
Software: Adobe Illustrator ↓
Animated creature GIF based on 3 given characteristics per student.
Software: Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop ↓
Vector illustration based on gods in modern world context.
[Top left to bottom right: Huitzilopochtli, Dionysus, Hephaestus, Apollo]
Software: Adobe Illustrator ↓
Surreal photographic composition.
Software: Adobe Photoshop ↓
Self-portrait incorporating scanned items.
Software: Adobe Photoshop ↓
Logo & resumé.
Software: Adobe InDesign ↓
Intermediate Computing for Design
Typographic portraits of celebrities.
[Top left to bottom right: Sarah Paulson, Paul Giamatti, Jackie Chan, Elvis Presley]
Software: Adobe Illustrator ↓
Animal + number forced connection vector illustration.
Software: Adobe Illustrator ↓
Reinterpret cliché illustrations. Themed illustrations were required to incorporate six of the following– a heart, apple, light bulb, star, sun, eye, mouth, key, cloud, rose, flower, and/or tree.
Software: Adobe Illustrator ↓
Poster designs advertising university lecture and printed on specialty paper.
Software: Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and/or InDesign ↓
Band logo & CD packaging based on a classmate.
Software: Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign ↓
Advanced Computer Studio for Fine Art [Self-Branding Studio]
This course was for non-graphic design major upperclassmen who wanted to prepare for post-grad life, learn from professional creative guests, and create a personal brand to build their logo, business card, resumé, and portfolio website. Student majors included painting, concept art, photography, interior design, and landscape architecture.
Software: Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign; Microsoft Word; and various online website design platforms. ↓
Teaching Philosophy
Enthusiasm is one of the most powerful engines of success. When you do a thing, do it with all your might. Put your whole soul into it. Stamp it with your own personality. Be active, be energetic and faithful, and you will accomplish your object. Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm. –Ralph Waldo Emerson
I see the purpose of my profession as an all-important job to enthuse, encourage, and educate the designers of tomorrow. Graphic design is not a field to be viewed as mundane and easy, and I operate my classroom in a way that demonstrates these truths. At the same time, I express my love of design so that students may enjoy what they are learning in the classroom.
As an educator, I directly influence my students in realizing their artistic potential. A solid foundation is important to build upon, along with providing traditional and contemporary design inspiration to supply a broad sense of knowledge. Research, thumbnails, and rough compositions help to create a successful final product, and every step is taught with the utmost importance. Dedicated discipline is expected of my students, while fun is implemented to keep them motivated and attentive. I want to activate their imagination to produce creative concepts, combined with the skill of quality craftsmanship and organization. In connection to my students, I establish positive and professional relationships that allow me to remain approachable and accessible to them. Encouragement and confidence is important in how I interact with my students in promoting hard work and creative vision.
I strive to foster a sense of community and accountability for my students so they remain on the path to improvement as designers. Discussion of both the favorable and unfavorable aspects of their work is crucial to their understanding of successful design. Constructive criticism is executed from brainstorming in their sketchbooks to presenting their final product in front of the class. This strengthens their analysis and vocabulary of design as individuals by speaking about their own work and lending advice to others, in addition to my thoughts and criticisms.
As technology is ever-growing and changing, I make my students aware of new techniques that may enhance their growth and knowledge. Staying up-to-date with Adobe design software is essential in moving forward with the industry, but I also want them to be informed and take advantage of newer technologies within reach. Such technology can include laser cutting, laser etching, 3D printing, and vinyl cutting, and can add diversity and professionalism to a project.
Each student is unique in what they bring to the table of design. They also possess different learning styles that I recognize and give attention to with classroom lectures and demonstrations, typed hand-outs, and online instruction. I implement vocal, handwritten, and online Flickr critique sessions so they experience different methods of evaluation with one another. When projects are intended for print, it is vital to critique those projects in their physical form to experience the actual outcome of their pursuits. From start to finish in each project, I do everything I can to prepare students for a successful career by providing for them a genuine and informative education.
I see the purpose of my profession as an all-important job to enthuse, encourage, and educate the designers of tomorrow. Graphic design is not a field to be viewed as mundane and easy, and I operate my classroom in a way that demonstrates these truths. At the same time, I express my love of design so that students may enjoy what they are learning in the classroom.
As an educator, I directly influence my students in realizing their artistic potential. A solid foundation is important to build upon, along with providing traditional and contemporary design inspiration to supply a broad sense of knowledge. Research, thumbnails, and rough compositions help to create a successful final product, and every step is taught with the utmost importance. Dedicated discipline is expected of my students, while fun is implemented to keep them motivated and attentive. I want to activate their imagination to produce creative concepts, combined with the skill of quality craftsmanship and organization. In connection to my students, I establish positive and professional relationships that allow me to remain approachable and accessible to them. Encouragement and confidence is important in how I interact with my students in promoting hard work and creative vision.
I strive to foster a sense of community and accountability for my students so they remain on the path to improvement as designers. Discussion of both the favorable and unfavorable aspects of their work is crucial to their understanding of successful design. Constructive criticism is executed from brainstorming in their sketchbooks to presenting their final product in front of the class. This strengthens their analysis and vocabulary of design as individuals by speaking about their own work and lending advice to others, in addition to my thoughts and criticisms.
As technology is ever-growing and changing, I make my students aware of new techniques that may enhance their growth and knowledge. Staying up-to-date with Adobe design software is essential in moving forward with the industry, but I also want them to be informed and take advantage of newer technologies within reach. Such technology can include laser cutting, laser etching, 3D printing, and vinyl cutting, and can add diversity and professionalism to a project.
Each student is unique in what they bring to the table of design. They also possess different learning styles that I recognize and give attention to with classroom lectures and demonstrations, typed hand-outs, and online instruction. I implement vocal, handwritten, and online Flickr critique sessions so they experience different methods of evaluation with one another. When projects are intended for print, it is vital to critique those projects in their physical form to experience the actual outcome of their pursuits. From start to finish in each project, I do everything I can to prepare students for a successful career by providing for them a genuine and informative education.
Student Evaluations
