Walt Hines

In teaching design for 24 years I have been the benefactor of all kinds of wisdom imparted by dynamic educators, intelligent designers, photographers, artists, printmakers, sculptors, chairmen and deans.

This blog is dedicated to the mentors, teachers and designers who provided me with inspiration in the classroom, a working attitude for success and unique projects that made me understand principles of design, artistic concepts, composition, drawing, color and creativity.

I owe much appreciation to Ben Freedman, Will Peterson and Joe Moss/West Virginia University, George Nocito/NYU, Urban Couch/Cranbrook Academy of the Arts, Dr. William Brown/Penn State University, Peter Charles/Yale University, Cliff Harvey/Minneapolis College of Art & Design, Dr. Norman Magdan/Cleveland Institute of the Arts, Dr. James K. O'Grady, Stanley Madeja and Jerome Bell/Northern Illinois University, Bruce White/Columbia University, Carl Hayano/Kendall College of Art, Leif Allmendinger and Dale Fahnstrom/IIT, Tom Gormley/Cooper Union, Milton Glaser, Alan Fletcher, Bob Swinehart and Dan Boyarski/Carnegie-Mellon University, Nancy Skolos, Maggy Cuesta/New World School of the Arts, Vernon Grant/Pratt Institute, Wendy Richmond/Harvard University, Michael Vanderbyl, Larry Keely/Doblin Group, Michael Carlebach/University of Miami, David Carson, Federico Sandoval/The Orange Snowman, Jose Farinos/Indian River State College and my friend, photographer Joe Gemignani.

In the 13 years (1980-1993) I spent at Northern Illinois University in the Visual Communication program review processes maintained a quality student at every level with sophomore portfolio reviews, grade reviews at the junior level, and a very intense and diverse portfolio of unique projects that represented their best design skills including foundation studies, typography, publication design, identity systems, package design, renderings & perspective drawings, information design, exhibition design, photography, senior projects as well as independent studies. The strong design curriculum designed by the faculty was at the heart of the success of the school. They produced some of the top designers in the country during the 80s and 90s there - Susanna Dulkinys, Mark Rattin, Dana Arnett, Scott Johnson, Chris Froeter, Mary Roeser, Lyle Zimmerman, Mike McMillan, John Vieceli, Jill Varvil, Kris Krug, Kathryn Urbanowski, Martha Perez, Karen O'Connor, Barry Deck, Mike Stees, Lori Pocci - forgive me if I left anyone out.

At the end of every year seniors put their portfolios on display in the NIU gallery in downtown Chicago for an entire week. Many students were hired on the spot. During portfolio week over a hundred designers from the area would past through and see the quality and dedication by a school who knew how to produce success. I personally have taught hundreds of designers in the Chicago area. The rich design community there supported the tradition of the school with graduates taking jobs in in-house firms, design offices, advertising agencies, package design firms and in exhibition design. Many students were enhanced with internships at participating design firms and the University Publications office.

Twenty-two designers, media specialists and photographers comprised the design area, while there were a total of 70 full-time faculty in the art department. I taught the portfolio classes there for many years.

Graphic Design Education

1. Love What They Do
There is no question, that awesome teachers love to teach. Not doing it for the money, prestige, or glory, they teach because it brings them an incredible feeling of satisfaction knowing they are contributing positively to the futures of others. If a teacher doesn’t have this inner satisfaction, and does not enjoy what they do, they’ll never be able to make lasting impressions in their students minds. Passion has great impact, and this is something that all great teachers have.

2. Good Communicators
A teacher has the responsibility of bridging the gap between themselves and their students, so good communication skills are a must. It’s difficult sometimes to relate to people, especially children, so that learning can happen in their minds, but excellent teachers are masters of this. Relating to students on the student’s level, these teachers have developed many ways to reach their students, and communicate using terrific speaking skills, visual aids, and even in their body language.

3. Admirable
In order for a teacher to be great, they must be admirable. These teachers lead lives of high moral ground, and they set an example to their students because of it. Really though, admirable teachers are more credible than others. We as people are much more likely to listen to those we admire, because we wish to be like them. Models of who we would like to someday be, great teachers help show us the way.

4. Positive Reinforcement
Instead of using strict punishment to discipline students, great teachers know how to use positive reinforcement to get the best results. Good teachers understand that positive discipline and commitment bring successful results. Often teachers reward their students for doing a good job, so they are more apt to doing it in the future.

5. Fair & Just
Equality is an ideal that great teachers hold dear to themselves. They treat their students equally, yet giving them the individual attention they need. Continuity in the classroom creates equality in evaluation. In doing so, they end up teaching their students the importance of fair treatment, even if the teacher hadn’t intended to do so.

6. Leadership
Great teachers are leaders. In the classroom, they own the spotlight, and have the responsibility of being strong instructors so that students listen to them with determination. They have to lead their students on the right path through the learning experience, and help by showing the obstacles that may stand in the student’s way.

7. Committed
There is no doubt that a great teacher is committed. They go above and beyond the time requirements of a typical teacher, and are willing to help students whenever they need it. Great teachers are very committed to the curriculum they teach, and like their students, are always continuing to learn in the hopes of becoming even better teachers.

8. Understanding
Great teachers understand their students better than most people. They understand where their students came from, who they are, and know the best avenue to take them to who they will become. Great teachers have an uncanny understanding of what they teach, because they are experts in their fields of knowledge. Design is a very selective field that needs only the best problem-solvers - creativity is the primary factor in success not technology.

9. Compassion & Caring
Great teachers help by teaching, because they know that by giving knowledge to the next generation, they are creating individuals who will have the skills, compassion, and dedication to be successful. Great teachers care about the world and what they do and wouldn’t have things any other way.

10. Confidence
A teacher can’t teach without confidence. Students won’t believe in a teacher that first doesn’t believe in himself. Great teachers are confident that they know how to teach, and in what they are teaching. Nothing stands in the way of this confidence, and the teacher does their best not to become arrogant about the job they do.

11. Prepared
Excellent teachers are prepared. They know their curriculum to teach students, and follow them well. These teachers are always ready to go when the time calls for it and they never leave their students lost and not knowing the direction they are headed. Great teachers stick to the plans they’ve prepared, in order to teach the beat way possible.

12. Selectivity
The best design teachers lead by example - designing with the latest software, staying aware of contemporary visual trends, use the latest technology - powerpoints, slide presentations, videos, web blogs, appropriate industry websites, interviews and field trips. Design is a very selective field - only the best problem-solvers, hard workers and those with a classic knowledge of creative visualization, design process, good organization skills, classic typography, grid systems, composition and color will survive. The best design teacher imparts an appreciation of design history and the top designers in their disciplines.

13. Professionalism
Professionalism is the sign of a great teacher. They know that as someone who is responsible for helping people learn, they must take their work seriously. Terrific teachers dress well, have good hygiene, and treat their students with respect. They believe in timeliness, and are never late and rarely miss days they are assigned to work. In doing so, their students respect them, and are more willing to learn from them.

Inspiration, Creativity & Selectivity

Created on 03/07/2009 11:44 AM by walt
Updated on 12/04/2009 01:59 AM by walt