DEPARTMENT of DESIGN
Scholarly & Creative Activity
Our faculty are leaders in the design industry—creating dynamic digital experiences, designing books, producing films, creating video games. They bring their expertise to classrooms and studios, guiding and inspiring the next generation of designers in the creation of engaging and meaningful products.
Faculty work
Our faculty are passionate about their research, practice and scholarly activity and are committed to building Edmonton’s design community. Collectively, they’ve worked on hundreds of industry, government and non-profit projects. They sit on professional editorial and review committees for journals, conferences and award juries and organize national and international industry and scholarly events.
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Constanza Pacher, associate professor in the Department of Design, designs and illustrates books as part of her scholarly output, including the memoir Twisted Sisters by Edmonton-based author Patricia Dunnigan.
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During the early stages of the pandemic, Dr. Adolfo Ruiz, assistant professor in the Department of Design, produced Whirlwind, a hand-drawn animation that offers a visual reflection on new rhythms of life emerging during a time of rapid sociocultural change.
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Robert Andruchow and Dr. Isabelle Sperano, associate professors in the Department of Design, worked with 20 students and collaborated with the departments of biological sciences, computer sciences and music to create Life on the Edge, a biology-themed video game.
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Constanza Pacher, associate professor in the Department of Design, designed the book of short stories Al Alcance de mi Mano, Tan Lejano by Argentinian author Gonzalo Acosta.
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Tangible Memory is a 16mm film based on conversations with (and footage of) a mold maker/machinist who reflects on a lifetime of working with metal. In the film, Dr. Adolfo Ruiz, assistant professor in the Department of Design, sheds light on the intimate, life-long relation between maker and material.
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Dr. Adolfo Ruiz, assistant professor in the Department of Design, produced Futures Within, a short film that explores alternative futures using hand-rendered illustration and animation.
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Using a participatory design approach, Dr. Baradaran Rahimi and his colleague worked with Grade Nine students to design several interest-driven games in a variety of formats, such as augmented reality, Minecraft and board games.
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Dr. Isabelle Sperano and Robert Andruchow, associate professors in the Department of Design, are working on design and digital transformation, collaborating with the city of Edmonton to improve digital service delivery.
Good user experience design contributes to the user’s well-being—making life better and more enjoyable.
Isabelle Sperano, associate professor, Department of Design
Faculty research online
Many of our faculty’s recent publications and research projects can be accessed through MacEwan library’s online repository.
DESIGN DEPARTMENT RESEARCH
A Digital Design Conversation
Two Bachelor of Design profs talk about a video game that predicted COVID-19, how acting techniques can build a better digital experience and how research and teaching intertwine.
Listen to Research Recasted
Student work
Our students produce a range of solutions to visual design problems. Using our studios and workshops as a playground for exploring their ideas, students focus their talents on solutions that complement their own particular interests and abilities.
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Created by Joel Toews, NOT Just Hair is an animation that raises awareness about alopecia. It chronicles his wife Allie’s journey using a paper stop-motion made in After Effects and Premiere Pro.
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Ashley Le redesigned Sage Seniors Association’s website, focusing on intuitive navigation and a colour-coded activities calendar. By doing so, she enhanced the overall user experience and met the needs of this community partner.
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Angeline Santos’ redesign of Almomilks’ packaging breaks away from typical almond milk designs, making it easier for consumers to identify their preferred brand.
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Danielle McDow-York’s wayfinding system for Allard Hall, [Way]Finding Materiality, improves users’ sense of orientation by providing a distinct visual identity that also highlights the building's material aesthetic.
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In Sushi Making, Alyssa Joe explores 3D motion graphics using After Effects and Blender to create a cucumber maki tutorial. Using objects that are toy-like in appearance, the video engages the viewer with its sense of playfulness.
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Vik Chu and Dominic LaFrance developed the ETS Travel Companion in collaboration with Edmonton Transit Service. This system pairs a companion fob with a mobile app, allowing trusted contacts to track users for safer arrivals.
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Jennifer Onwudinjo’s Body Movement captures the unique forms and contours of the human silhouette through creative photography techniques. It celebrates the diversity and beauty inherent in the human form.
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Garden of Love by Andre Arabejo was painted using acrylics on an 18" x 24" canvas. “I wanted to show contrast through depicting a feminine figure covered in stereotypically masculine tattoos,” says Andre.
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Dominic Lafrance produced a music video to accompany the IDLES song “WAR.” The video was conceptualized and storyboarded over the course of a month and shot in one day.
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Designed by Anthea Pou, Neomu Neomu is a rebranding project for Edmonton’s Kids and Mom Toys. It emerged from extensive market research and conceptual exploration.
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Life on the Edge, a single-player educational video game for biology students, was created by a multi-disciplinary team at MacEwan, including students from the design program.
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MacEwan’s Design Students Organization worked with industrial design students from the University of Alberta to create and install artwork in West Edmonton Mall, Kingsway Mall and Londonderry Mall to build excitement for the 2023 JUNO Awards held in Edmonton.
Portfolio show
To celebrate their hard work, graduating students curate, exhibit and promote their best work in the portfolio show. In preparation for the event, they meet with industry professionals who mentor them through the portfolio development process. Then, they are given full responsibility for selecting and displaying the designs they are most proud of. On opening night, they enjoy the spotlight as they promote their work to designers, alumni and potential employers.
Flight: Design Portfolio Show 2024
Be impressed, enlightened and entertained. The portfolio show highlights the year’s best work—as selected by our graduating students themselves.
Flight
An invitation to students
Explore your own ideas and share them at conferences through USRI and USRA grants. Present to your peers and the general public at Student Research Day. Discover numerous opportunities for student-engaged research at MacEwan University.
Student research at macewan