30+ Years Experience Teaching Graphic Design, In-Person and Online

Donna S.

I can help you most in your learning of visual communication design/graphic design, especially typography, publication design, package design, and book design (including zines and handmade books). My approach is tailored to your style of learning, and I have experience teaching students who have neurodiverse ways of learning, and differing abilities

I’ve been teaching communication design and typography at New York and New England colleges and universities for 30+ years. I’ve led book/journal/zine making classes at a womens’ shelter, in a UNESCO-funded program in Eastern Europe, and at after-school, art, yoga, and craft centers. I offer professional development courses and workshops to K-12 teachers including a co-developed co-taught Massachusetts Department of Education Grant-sponsored teacher-education course using design to teach Math and Science. I recently designed a course that may be adapted for teachers of all levels, “Creating Engaging Lessons using Design Activities,” and I love to teach book/journal/zine making to people of all ages—as young as five!—integrating mindful, meditation-inspired philosophies and encouraging creative and thoughtful exploration in all of my work and teaching.

My education includes: BA (Psychology with Fine Arts area study), Daemen University; MBA, Canisius University; MFA, State University of New York at Buffalo; and Graduate credits from Goddard College, Landmark College Institute for Research and Training, and Harvard Graduate School of Education. My writings and artwork are published/exhibited in the US and abroad.

I am happy arranging tutoring sessions online and/or in-person and I have a 24-hour cancellation policy!