Mary Banas,
Design Education


An ongoing record of teaching & related activities, 2007–now.



Design Process & Thinking

BFA
Spring 2016
University of Connecticut
Department Chair, School of Fine Arts: Anne D’Alleva
Professors: Edvin Yegir, Mark Zurolo
Original course written by Mark Zurolo.

This course is usually taken by Freshman and/or students who are interested in the Graphic Design concentration within the School of Fine Arts, Department of Art and Art History. This course functions as an introduction to the field of Graphic Design answering the question “what is design?”. Students learn to think, iterate, carft, and refine though making. Students read, write, watch films, collect artifacts, draw letterforms, express meaning through abstraction, create typographic compositions, make posters, make process books, alphabet books, hard-bound books, patterns, and zines. While there is a great deal of focus on the process of making in this class, projects are always grounded in a concept.

Students learn typographic terms, hierarchy, and they make a typeface. They craft books and build boxes. They design icons, sequences, books, currency.

Course objective (from the syllabus):
“Art 2110 is project and research oriented. The principle objective is to make students perceptually and conceptually aware; to introduce basic concepts and fundamentals of graphic design through enthusiastic sketching, thumbnailing and thinking. Participants are expected to critically explore, research, and critique your own and your peer's process.” — Mark Zurolo



Design Process & Thinking

BFA
Spring 2015
University of Connecticut
Department Chair, School of Fine Arts: Anne D’Alleva
Graphic Design Faculty: Edvin Yegir, Mark Zurolo
Original course written by Mark Zurolo.

This course is usually taken by Freshman and/or students who are interested in the Graphic Design concentration within the School of Fine Arts, Department of Art and Art History. This course functions as an introduction to the field of Graphic Design answering the question “what is design?”. Students learn to think, iterate, carft, and refine though making. Students read, write, watch films, collect artifacts, draw letterforms, express meaning through abstraction, create typographic compositions, make posters, make process books, alphabet books, hard-bound books, patterns, and zines. While there is a great deal of focus on the process of making in this class, projects are always grounded in a concept.

Students learn typographic terms, hierarchy, and they make a typeface. They craft books and build boxes. They design icons, sequences, books, currency.

Course objective (from the syllabus):
“Art 2110 is project and research oriented. The principle objective is to make students perceptually and conceptually aware; to introduce basic concepts and fundamentals of graphic design through enthusiastic sketching, thumbnailing and thinking. Participants are expected to critically explore, research, and critique your own and your peer's process.” — Mark Zurolo

This semester I was also an advisor for one graduate student and converted this course into a grad level independent study for them.



CONTACT
For speaking engagements, workshops and critic appoinments, drop me a line here.


BIO
Currently teaching at School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University in Boston, MA.

Mary Banas has taught graphic design since 2009, notably as Visiting Assistant Professor in Residence at the University of Connecticut, Rhode Island School of Design, University of Bridgeport, Roger Williams University, and California College of the Arts.

She has led design workshops for the Center for Creative Solutions (Vermont), Dolby Labs (San Francisco), OTIS College of Art and Design (Los Angeles), the Berkeley Art Museum + Pacific Film Archive (Berkeley) and Cranbrook Academy of Art (Michigan). She has been a visiting critic at Maryland Institute College of Art, Pratt Institute, University of Utah, Boston University, Rhode Island School of Design, and San Jose State University.

Mary has been invited to talk about her creative practice at California Institute of the Arts (Valencia, CA), Cranbrook Academy of Art (Michigan), and University of Georgia (GA). 

Mary develops conceptual and informed designs for brands, institutions, and artists with her independent creative practice YES IS MORE and currently serves as a Senior Visual Designer in Marketing and Communications at Rhode Island School of Design.


Education
Rhode Island School of Design
MFA Graphic Design, with Honors
May 2009

University of Connecticut
BFA Communication Design
May 2003

Original photo: Hunter Kelly. Image manipulation: Derrick Schultz