Personal Teaching Objective

I help students develop design skills to become a valuable partner with businesses to serve their end users.

Background

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonaldesigner/

Teaching Philosophy

STATEMENT OF TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

All students enter the classroom with a unique set of experiences. How can I use students’ experiences to enrich their educational journey? How do I nurture a growth mindset? What kind of environment supports this? What best promotes learning?

Using real-life analogies helps make learning personal. Often, motivating students is the greatest challenge—because it involves more than understanding why they are in the class or what drives them individually. Helping students resolve their own challenges is essential to deeper learning. I provide guidance and exposure to other perspectives to encourage a unique solution from students. I believe in cultivating a safe space for experimentation and creative risk-taking.  Students engage in observational research, rapid ideation through thumbnails, low-fidelity prototyping with color compositions, and iterative refinement..

The learning process is a very personal experience in a classroom community. I promote personal experimentation within a collaborative environment. A culture of curiosity—where both failures and successes are celebrated—fosters acceptance and encourages innovation. These outcomes must then be tested for their real-world viability.

It is essential to first learn the rules—only then can they be bent, cracked, or even broken with intention and purpose.

Resume:

GRAPHIC ARTS PROFESSIONAL with focus on brand strategy and expression. Nurturing the intersections of education, strategy, visual communications/design so stake holders can connect and serve their end users.

EXPERIENCE

Collegiate Educator 03/2005 - Present

Adjunct Faculty

Elgin Community College 01/2023 - Present

• I teach InDesign how to layout, design, and application layout to the real world.

• Facilitating knowledge of Visual Conceptualization, how to create visual notes and storyboarding.

• Teaching Introduction to Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.

• Teaching Illustrator the significance of vector design and how to build and illustrate vector art.

College of DuPage 01/2025 - Present

• Teaching foundation Adobe programs, (Illustrator | Photoshop | InDesign | AfterEffects). Universal Design Principles, and application layout to the real world.

• Teaching foundational Drawing for Graphic Design - Universal Design Principles.

Harper College 01/2023 - 12/2023

• I taught Graphic Design I - an introduction to logo design, typography, and layout.

Illinois Institute of Art, IL 10/2006 - 12/2018

• Faculty position teaching in foundation department - Illustrator, Photoshop, Storyboarding, Fashion Illustration, Life Drawing, Perspective Drawing.

Identity Design Contract Work 01/2019 - Present

• Oyster Environmental, LLC aka Waste Options, Nantucket, MA

  Created impactful Brand Strategy, Brand Identity (logo design) that help win their bid for the Town of Nantucket, Brand Guidelines, Print Collaterals, Wayfinding Signage and Website Design, Art and Layout for print packaging on burlap bag.

• Ozark Grilling Pellets, Ozark, MO

  Created Logo, Art (icons), to bring a startup identity to a professional level.

  Layout for package design, optimization of images and preflight for print.

• Knead to Whisk, Schaumburg, IL

  Logo design, Event Posters, Stickers for print packaging.

• Healthway Pharmacy, Aurora, IL

  Created Logo for local startup pharmacy.

EDUCATION

Master of Associated Medical Science, University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Health & Human Development Sciences, (Medical Illustrator).

Associates, American Academy of Art, Chicago, IL, (Department of Oil Painting).

Bachelor of Science, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Associated Health Professionals, (Medical Technologist).

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION MEMEBERSHIPS

• Futur Pro Member

• Interaction Design Member

• Maker Division

AWARDS WON BY MY STUDENTS

Elgin Community College Safety Poster Redesign (2023)

• 5 past student became finalist and 1 student won the competition. Posters have been published throughout the campus. Selection of the finalist and winner was juried by local Police, Fire Departments, Internal ECC Safety Department and ECC Graphic Design Department

Westwood College Call to Art (2006)

• Illinois Department of Public Health BASUAH, Brothers and Sisters United against HIV

  16 past students won the BASUAH competition and were published statewide in a book form for fundraising.

CALL TO ART

Finalist for Smithsonian Indian American Heritage Project. National Call to Art Submission for H1B Visa Experience. (2013)

• https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/educated-indentured-servant-lilaben-leher/6gFeZ7EoRJfE4Q

Finalist artwork displayed at gallery at 12 Gates Art Gallery. (2014)

• https://www.twelvegatesarts.org/programs-and-events-calendar/2014/1/18/h1b

Note: If these links don’t work, then please copy paste them into a new browser window.

Tools I use:

Software - Adobe Suite, Fresco, Procreate, Corel Painter. I am beginning to dabble in Figma, and curious about Framer, Midjourney, Luma, Suna, Blender. I have thought deeply on how AI is affecting my teaching and have begun using it for my classes like InDesign for copy and image creation only.

Traditional tools - Pencils, Pens, Inks, Paper

Interests/Specialization:

Interests/Specialization: I am a trained Illustrator and have learned Design along the way. I have begun offering Brand Strategy and Web Design as part of my Brand Identity Package. I am starting to use AfterEffects for branding. I have a strong interest in UI/UX, Design Thinking, how to ethically leverage AI in the design workflow and the business side of Creative Design.

In summary, I do logo designs, package design, brand strategy, illustration, I’ve done copy writing, (without the usage of ChatGPT), for websites I’ve designed. I teach how to serve businesses so they can clearly communicate with their end users.

Websites I have recently designed using squarespace.com:

• www.oysterenviro.com

• www.shefalee.art

• www.sonal.design