Student Liaison

Dave received his BA in history from California State University San Marcos in 2001, yet his work experience for over nine years has been in the field of graphic design. Until beginning graduate studies at the Academy of Art University in 2005, Dave worked at a variety of in-house art departments before becoming principal of his own multimedia firm, Optional Design Group. Studies at the Academy have afforded him the opportunity to delve into research, design theory and education.

Dave currently engages in contract work when time allows and has been a faculty member at the Academy since July 2006. He teaches the Pre-College Art Experience in graphic design, and leads critique workshops as a student mentor for the Academy Resource Center. As the AIGA board’s student liason, Dave is an advocate for student concerns and aids the board in planning student events, and works to promote AIGA on his campus and in the student design community at large. He also provides comic relief at board meetings, and occasionally is asked to get people coffee.

More information about his MFA thesis project, Themerica – A Visual History of Thematic Design from Disneyland to Dubai, can be found at www.themerica.org.