Curriculum Vitea

Ann E. Ford
804.937.2994 • aford@vsu.edu • ann.ford@chambers-design.com
www.chambers-design.com • Download


Education

  • 2008 • Virginia Commonwealth University • School of the Arts • Richmond, Virginia Master of Fine Arts in Design / Visual Communications
  • Thesis title: Typographic Performance: bringing the stage into the design process
  • 1997 • Virginia Commonwealth University • School of the Arts • Richmond, VA • Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communication Arts and Design • Magna Cum Laude
Additional Education
  • Summer 2007 • Arts in Florence • Independent Study
  • 2005 - 2006 • Virginia Commonwealth University • Richmond, Virginia • School of Graduate Studies • Master of Interdisciplinary Studies courses in Graphic Design and English
  • Preparing Future Faculty in the Professions
  • 1992 - 1994 • J Sargeant Reynolds Community College • Richmond, Virginia • Liberal Arts / General Academic Studies
  • 2003 • Printable Technologies

Employment

Academic Appointments
  • 2008 - present • Virginia State University • School Liberal Arts and Education • Department of Art & Design Richmond, Virginia • Assistant Professor / Department of Graphic Design
  • 2002 - 2008 • Virginia Commonwealth University • School of the Arts Richmond, Virginia • Adjunct Faculty / Department of Graphic Design
  • 2007 • Virginia Commonwealth University • School of Mass Communication, Richmond, Virginia • Graduate Teaching Assistant
Professional Practice
  • 2001 - present • Chambers Design • Ashland, Virginia • Creative Director and Principal
  • 2005 - 2007 • Virginia Commonwealth University • School of the Arts in Qatar, Richmond, Virginia • VCU Qatar Liaison
  • 2002 - 2003 • Choice Communications, Inc. • Richmond, Virginia • Director of Creative and Preperss Services
  • 2000 - 2003 • Virginia Commonwealth University • School of the Arts, Richmond, Virginia • Director of Graphic Design & Public Relations • Department of Theatre
  • 1998 - 2000 • James River Press • Richmond, Virginia • Graphic Designer
  • 1997 - 1998 • The Wright Agency • Ashland, Virginia • Graphic Designer
  • 1996 - 1997 • TheatreVirginia • Richmond, Virginia • Graphic Design Intern
  • 1996 - 1997 • Virginia Commonwealth University • School of the Arts • Richmond, Virginia • Lab Assistant
  • 1996 - 1997 • Virginia Commonwealth University • Freelance
  • Honors Program Brochure • Freelance Project • January 1997, Spring Semester • 1997 lecture/class brochure
  • Portfolio Acceptance Day Poster • Freelance Project • October 1996

Teaching

Courses
  • Graphic Design History • VACD 200
  • Web Graphics I • VACD 210
  • Web Graphics II • VACD 211
  • Typography I • VACD 201
  • HTML • VACD 304
  • Print Production I • VACD 302
  • Print Production II • VACD 312
  • Web Design I • VACD 305
  • Publication Design • VACD 315
  • Web Design II • VACD 410
  • Package Design • VACD 415
  • Internship • VACD 450
  • Senior Thesis Project • VACD 451
  • Computers For Artists • ARTS 108
  • Electronic Imaging • GDES 419
  • Communication Design: Systems in Design • GDES 410
  • Art Direction I • GDES 341
  • Intermediate Typography • GDES 213
  • Typography I • GDES 211
  • Print Mediums • GDES 352
  • Studio Management • GDES 356
  • Electronic Pre-press • CARD 401
Course Development
  • ?Strategic Design • VCAD 499
  • ?Upper Level Studio / Lecture. Work with area nonprofit clients to create and produce a wide variety of fully designed advertising and promotional materials.

  • ?Experimental Typography • VCAD 499
  • ?Upper Level Studio / Lecture. An in-depth exploration typographic expression coupled with traditional typographic processes.

  • ?Systems in Design • VCAD 499
  • ?Upper Level Studio / Lecture. The study of systematic and methodological approaches to communication design through the solving of complex problems in visual communication.

  • Commercial Printing Processes • GDES 491
  • Upper Level Studio / Lecture. An in-depth exploration on commercial
    printing production processes and techniques.

Course Collaboration
  • 2009 - 2014 • ?Advertising Design / Marketing Brand Management
  • ?Upper Level Studio / Lecture. A collaboration between design and business with emphasis on branding, brand management and brand positioning..

Student Trips
  • 2004 - 2014 • ?Virginia Museum of Fine Arts [VMFA] Tours
  • 2004 - 2014 • Commercial Printing Tours
  • 2009 - 2014 • CreateAthon onCampus Participation
Mentorship
  • 2008 - present • Faculty Advisor • AIGA | the association for design • Virginia State University student group
  • 2008 - present • Student Internships
Speakers and Exhibitions
  • 2008 - 2011 • Lecturer • Beth Schumacher • BW Wilson paper company
  • 2009 • Visiting Artist • John Jennings • exhibition and workshop
Departmental Administration
  • 2008 - 2011 • Adjunct Faculty Coordinator
  • 2010 • Computer Lab Supervisor

Service

Committees
  • 2012 - 2014 • Pay Equity Committee • Virginia State University
  • 2008 - 2014 • Technology Committee • Virginia State University
  • 2011 - 2012 • Curriculum Committee Chair • Department of Art & Design • Virginia State University
  • 2011 - 2012 • Web Site Design Steering Committee • Virginia State University
  • 2010 - 2011 • Web Site Design Search Committee • Virginia State University
  • 2010 - 2014 • Distance Education Committee • Virginia State University
  • 2010 - 2014 • Retention and Recruitment Committee • Virginia State University
  • 2009 - 2011 • University Catalog Committee • Virginia State University
  • 2009 - 2014 • Faculty Senate • Department Alternate • Virginia State University
Honors
  • 2007 • Honor Council Hearing • Juror • Virginia Commonwealth University
  • 200 • Honor Council Hearing • Juror • Virginia Commonwealth University
  • 2005 - 2007 • Graduate Honor Council • Virginia Commonwealth University
  • 1997 • Grade Appeal Committee • Member • Virginia Commonwealth University
  • 1996 • Grade Appeal Committee • Member • Virginia Commonwealth University
Community Service
  • Spring 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 • CreateAthon onCampus
  • 2002 - 2007 • Hanover Arts & Activities Center

Research

Explorations of alternative methodologies to educate and encourage students to become design thinkers and problem solvers. How a designer's collaboration, early in a project, can be benefical for the end result. Subjects of interest are the firm IDEO and their work with Kaiser, Schwinn, etc., as well as, the work currently active with the Mayo Clinic Center for Innovation.


Ongoing and prolonged research of Graduate Thesis project topic, "Typographic Performance," continuing to explore memory and how the memory effects the learning process as well as the emotional experience of the written word. Ongoing research, and content collection, for two new books currently in development; 100s Visual Design: Type & Grids and 100s Visual Design: Information Design.


Honors and Accomplishments

  • 1997 • Distinguished Service Award • Virginia Commonwealth University • School of the Arts
  • 1995 - 96, 1996 - 97 • National Deans Lists
  • 1995 • Certified Diamontologist
  • 1994 • Golden Key Honor Society
  • Office Manager of the Year District 97
  • 1992 - 1993 • Psi Beta
  • 1991 - 1993 • Phi Theta Kappa
Exhibitions
  • 2013 • ?US & China Typographic Poster Exchange 2013 • US & China • traveling exhibition
  • 2013 • Sketchbook Project • Brooklyn Public Arts Library • traveling exhibition
  • 2012 • Sketchbook Project • Brooklyn Public Arts Library • traveling exhibition
  • 2011 • Sketchbook Project • Brooklyn Public Arts Library • traveling exhibition
  • 2011 • ?Virginia State University Faculty Exhibition • Petersburg, ?Virginia • Meredith Gallery
  • 2011 • ?Virginia State University Faculty Exhibition • ?Virginia State University • ?Petersburg Art’s League PAL
  • 2008 • MFA Thesis Exhibition • Virginia Commonwealth University
  • 2007 • Juried Student Design Exhibition • Virginia Commonwealth University • Anderson Gallery
  • 2003 • Give:2 • poster competition • Richmond AIGA
  • 1997 • The Real Show • poster competition • The Art Directors Club of Washington, DC
  • 1997 • Juried Student Design Exhibition • Virginia Commonwealth University • Anderson Gallery
  • 1996 • Money Exhibit • NationsBank in cooperation with the Richmond Arts Council
Permanent Collections
  • 2008 Virginia Commonwealth University, Cabell Library Thesis: Typographic Performance: bringing the stage into the design process. Collaboration with performance artists, directors and faculty to obtain a greater understanding of performance as an experimental approach to the creative problem solving process.
  • 2007 Virginia Commonwealth University, Cabell Library Visual / Verbal Response Collection of visual and verbal responses to a series of provided readings on linguistics, education and design
  • 2005 Virginia Commonwealth University, Cabell Library A collection of tweleve research topics relevant to graphic design
Publications
  • ?The Sketchbook Project Limited Edition (works included) The Sketchbook Project Limited Edition, Brooklyn Public Arts Library. Vol.4 November 2012, Art House, LLC. Brooklyn, NY. Works published.
  • Packaging Templates: Paper Engineering for Professional (author / designer) Ann Ford. Angela Patchell Books: March 31, 2009. The first in a series of ebooks designed for Angela Patchell Books new Vizebooks application for iPhone and iPad.
  • 100s Visual Ideas Packaging & Labels Ann Ford & Matt Woolman. Angela Patchell Books: March 31, 2009. 100+ innovative international examples of packaging and label design. This book gives the visual inspiration needed to create a design which meets the clients needs. (author/ designer)
  • 100s Visual Ideas: Logos & Letterheads Matt Woolman. Angela Patchell Books: October 15, 2008 (production designer)
  • 100s Visual Ideas: Formats, Folds & Bindings Matt Woolman. Angela Patchell Books: October 15, 2008. (production designer)
  • Typographic Performance: bringing the stage into the design process Ann Ford. Virginia Commonwealth University, Cabell Library: May 2008. Collaboration with performance artists, directors and faculty to obtain a greater understanding of performance as an experimental approach to the creative problem solving process.
  • Color Management for Packaging: A Comprehensive Guide for Graphic Designers John T. Drew & Sarah Meyer. RotoVision: March 2008 (production designer)
  • Working With Computer Type 4/Experimental Typography Rob Carter-1998 experimental & expressive typography studies: pages: 85, 86. Wiley, 1997. (works included)
  • Digital Color and Type Rob Carter-2002 experimental & expressive typography studies: pages: 225, 226. Wiley, 2002. (works included)
Publication Citations
  • 2010 [fall] • Virginia Commonwealth University MATX Doctoral Program • MATX 601/Texts & Textuality • Typographic Performance: bringing the stage into the design process. Required text for course.
Visiting Guest Lecturer
  • 2010 [fall] • Virginia Commonwealth University • MATX Doctoral Program • MATX 601/Texts & Textuality • Discuss the concept development surrounding my thesis project evolutions.
Professional Memberships
  • 2011 - present • UCDA • Member
  • 2010 - 2012 • AIGA Richmond Board • Education Director
  • 2008 - present • Southeastern College Art Conference • SECAC
  • 2008 - present • AIGA VSU Student Group • Faculty Adviser
  • 2006 - present • College Art Association • CAA
  • 2004 - 2005 • AIGA Richmond Board • Educational Outreach Liaison
  • 2004 - present • AIGA | the association for design • Richmond Chapter
  • 1997 - present • The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi
  • 1997 - present • Virginia Commonwealth University Alumni Association • (Lifetime member)
Undergraduate Reviewer
  • 2009 Student Portfolio Reviewer • Semi-Annual National Conference • Memphis, Tennessee
Peer Reviewer
  • 2010 External Professional Tenure and Promotion Reviewer • Leigh Thomson • Georgia Southern University
Technology
  • Software ?QuarkXpress, Adobe Creative Cloud, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Flash, Freehand, Dreamweaver, HTML, CSS, Mac OS, Windows, Microsoft Word, Excel, iWork, Your’s Truly Designer (variable data plug-in for Quark), Certified Site Administrator – Printable Technologies, Banner.
  • Hardware MAC OS, flatbed and slide scanner, and various printersÑcommercial and noncommercialÑ units.

References

  • Warren Lehrer • Writer, Artist, Designer, Educator • EarSay Inc. • warren@earsay.org
  • Dr. Noreen Barnes • Director of Graduate Studies, Theatre • Virginia Commonwealth University, School of the Arts • nbarnesm@vcu.edu
  • John P. Lowe Professor • Sequential Art • SCAD / Savannah College of Art & Design • jlowe@scad.edu
  • John Jennings • Associate Professor • Visual Studies • SUNY Buffalo • jijennin@buffalo.edu
  • Diane Gibbs • Associate Professor of Graphic Design • Department of Visual Arts • University of South Alabama • dgibbs@southalabama.edu
  • Susan K. Roth • Senior Associate Dean • Virginia Commonwealth University, School of the Arts • skroth@vcu.edu
  • Sarah Dunn • Administrative Director • Development & Operations • Bon Secours Health Care Foundation • sally_dunn@bshsi.com
  • Lydia Thompson • Director, School of Art • Texas Tech University • lydia.thompson@ttu.edu