DESIGN EDUCATION | ACADEMIA

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

Teaching is one of the first opportunities where a student experiences professional guidance. As a teacher, my responsibility is to help develop confidence in future creative minds and promote passion, motivation, and inspiration.

Effective mentoring is achieved through encouragement and driven by allowing diverse forms of expression in a non-judgmental and riskfree environment. Staying challenged and being resourceful is key to deliver insightful assignments that effectively prepare students for their professional careers.

“staying challenged and
being resourceful is key”

Mentoring allows students to conceptualize ideas and translate them into visual assets, enhancing peer critiques as an exercise to challenge each other to improve before receiving professional critique. Tracking one’s progress physically and digitally is highly encouraged.

Coursework will be a catalyst for students’ understanding of the blend of design and business strategies. Will present fundamental marketing principles while encouraging students to deliver beyond expectations, using creative thinking skills and problem-solving techniques, and as a result will complete this course with portfolio-quality pieces.

Practicing a combination of work and play as a teaching method leads to higher quality output. Emphasis on exploring social topics is crucial for one’s critical thinking. Using creative, inspiring and challenging assignments, students will grow stronger in their creative, ethical and philosophical vision as they prepare for the future professional environment.

CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT

Curriculum development is an extension of how I mentor students: intentional and grounded in real-world expectations. I design coursework that challenges students to think critically, work collaboratively, and build confidence through structured exploration. Every assignment is crafted to balance foundational design principles with contemporary industry practices, encouraging students to push boundaries while developing a strong creative voice.

I believe in building learning experiences that evolve alongside the design industry. From introducing marketing strategies to incorporating peer critique frameworks, my curricula are designed to prepare students not just for the classroom but for the professional world. By blending strategic thinking, hands-on practice, and space for individual expression, I aim to cultivate courses that are both inspiring and deeply practical.

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CURRICULUM VITAE

CURRICULUM VITAE

THESIS

THESIS

ASSIGNMENT SAMPLES

ASSIGNMENT SAMPLES

CLASS CURRICULUM

CLASS CURRICULUM

COURSES TAUGHT

Over the years, I've had the opportunity to teach a range of design courses that bridge theory, creativity, and professional practice. From foundational design principles to branding, design software, and pieces for portfolio development, each course is built to challenge students, encourage experimentation, and prepare them for the evolving design landscape. This is a selection of courses I’ve taught as an adjunct professor in Texas across Collin College, Dallas College, UTD, and UNT.

  • Provides foundational knowledge of visual structure and problem solving in two- and three-dimensional design. Students will be introduced to design methodology and design processes with emphasis on the formal principles of composition and organization.

  • Continuing exploration of design principles and practices, with an emphasis on three-dimensional design, time and motion, human perception, and critique.

  • Graphic design with emphasis on the visual communication process. Topics include basic terminology and graphic design principles.

  • Software Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign

  • A survey of design concepts, terminology, processes, and procedures. Topics include computer graphics hardware, digital images, digital publishing, vector-based graphics, and interactive multimedia.

  • Digital imaging using raster image editing and/or image creation software: scanning, resolution, file formats, output devices, color systems, and image-acquisitions.

  • Storyboarding for film, video and animation. Visual concept development for linear and interactive media.

Fall ‘22 Student

“She gauged questions and inspired and sparked our creativity. The projects were exciting!”

Spring ‘23 Student

“Professor Gonzalez allowed for fun and creative learning experiences! Of all of my courses, her course is one of my favorites. Not only did we have fun and creative projects, we learned the real life expectations for "work world" related instances.”

not just teaching skills, but art, direction, and design thinking.

Research

Research statement

I approach research as an exploration of creativity, not as a mystical gift, but as a skill honed through curiosity, discipline, and cultural awareness. Creativity, for me, is the ability to generate meaningful outcomes by identifying patterns, reframing problems, and responding with thoughtful, intentional design. In design research, creativity evolves hand in hand with problem-solving. Both are strengthened by a commitment to context, empathy, and critical inquiry.

My research investigates how visual communication affects perception and behavior, with an emphasis on color theory, typographic systems, and the emotional resonance of design elements. I am particularly interested in how cultural, social, and psychological factors influence design interpretation, both in global and local contexts. Through participatory design, visual analysis, and qualitative research methods, I aim to create frameworks that support inclusive, data-informed decision-making for both digital and analog experiences.

“I see design as a tool for shaping ethical, accessible, and culturally fuent communication”

More broadly, I am committed to advancing research that bridges creative practice with strategic impact. I see design as a tool for shaping ethical, accessible, and culturally fluent communication across industries and communities. My goal is to contribute to the academic discourse through scholarly writing, conference presentations, interdisciplinary collaboration, and continued exploration of emerging tools and methodologies in design education and practice.

This path also circles back to my beginnings in market research and has evolved into a deeper focus on user experience and human-centered design. I plan to revisit and expand my original thesis on cross-cultural color perception to explore how visual systems influence meaning across diverse audiences. Through this ongoing work, I hope to support students, practitioners, and institutions in building design practices that are thoughtful, informed, and resonant on a global scale.