Titles and contact information are displayed below. Click on a
section heading or use tabs at left to see all listings for that
section. Click on a name to see full biography for that person.
Ph.D. Geography, University of California, BerkeleyS.M.Arch.S. Architecture and Urbanism, Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyB.Arch. Architecture, Cornell University
Ph.D. Art History, University of Texas at Austin, 2001M.A. American Studies, University of Notre Dame, 1994B.A. American Studies, University of Texas at Austin, 1991
Field of interest: Mycelium-Based Materials, Biodesign, History
and Theory of Architecture, Design and Science
Ph.D. Art History, Boston UniversityM.A. Art History, University of Texas at AustinB.A. French Language and Literature, Vanderbilt University
Fields of interest: History of modern & contemporary art &
design. Marcel Duchamp, museums, narrative environments, and
experience design. Book design after Mallarmé.
M.A., Design, Art, Design and the Public Domain, Graduate School of Design, Harvard University, Cambridge, USAM.A., Business Administration, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, IndiaB.A., Tech., Electronics and Communication and Engineering, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India
Tanuja Mishra is a designer, artist and
researcher who works at the intersection of critical and
speculative design and social practice. She investigates
historical, cultural and aesthetic implications of technology to
imagine futures that are both aspirational and equitable. Her
current research focuses on questioning machine intelligence and
building AI on the values of care, trust and interconnection.
Ph.D. History of Art, Open UniversityM.A. History of Art, Design & Contextual Studies, Birmingham City UniversityB.A. History, King’s College, University of LondonFields of interest: history and theory of architecture, design and urbanism
Ph.D. Communication and Science Studies University of California- San Diego, La Jolla, CAMaster of Science in Architecture Studies (SMArchS) Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyMaster of Architecture (MArch.) Washington University in St. LouisBachelor of Science. Engineering Core (TDEC), Interior Design Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA.
Akshita Sivakumar is a designer and
social scientist. Her work focuses on technoscience at the
confluence of environmental governance and social movements to
analyze the socio-spatial production of difference in
justice-oriented efforts involving the state, market, and civil
society. She combines ethnographic and critical-making methods to
analyze the politics of representation, knowledge production,
labor, and solidarities. Her current research and book project
examines how computational technologies mediating environmental
governance and environmental justice in California produce
material and discursive differences and how social movement
actors align with and contest these processes and outcomes.
Ph.D. in architecture, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CAM.A. of Building Science in architecture, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CAB.A. of Engineering in architecture, Ajou University, South Korea
Jae Yong Suk is a Professor in the Department of
Design and the Rosenfeld Chair in Energy Efficiency and
Director of the California Lighting Technology Center (CLTC) at
UC Davis. Suk has a unique background as a highly accomplished
researcher, professor, and internationally recognized lighting
designer.
California Lighting Technology Center
University of California, Davis
633 Peña Drive
Davis, CA 95618
Ph.D. Computer Science, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, BrazilM.A. Computer Science, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, BrazilB.A. Computer Science, National Univeristy of San Marcos, Peru
M.F.A. Digital Media and Painting, Washington State UniversityM.S. Experimental Atomic Physics, Kansas State UniversityB.A. Fine Arts and Physics, Lawrence University (magna cum laude)
Research Interests
Fields: Critical Design; Technology and Society;
Cross-disciplinary Knowledge Production
Topics: Democracy and Information; Race and Artificial
Intelligence; Shelter and Resilience
B.S. with Honors, Design, University of California, DavisM.A. Museum Studies, with an emphasis in education and interpretation, John F. Kennedy University, Berkeley, CA
College in Brazil, Bachelor of Arts and Sciences, Graphic Design 2012City College of San Francisco, digital Design for the New Media 2015
Jean was a lead designer and illustrator until 2014, when he
moved to the US to study Digital Interactions and UX Design.
Since then he has developed himself as a Visual Designer
interested in articulating design decisions, rationally
considering projects’ function before their form.
During his time at UC Davis, he has proven to be extremely
motivated and empathetic with his student’s learning
goals—through his classwork, his TA positions, and his
participation in the newly founded Prototyping Lab.
B.F.A. Parsons School of Design M.Ed. Leslie University
William Mead has been teaching in the Design Department and UC
Davis since 2016. He earned his BFA at Parsons School of Design
in 1989. He completed a lifetime certification in secondary art
education at Massachusetts College of Art in 1992. In 1999 he
completed a Master’s degree in Education (MEd) At Leslie
University.
B.A., Anthropology, University of California, Berkeley M.F.A. Design (UC Davis)
Pachia’s (Puh-chee-uh) design work is informed by her experiences
as a Hmong-American navigating culture, art, trauma, and society
with a pluriversal imagination that speaks from Hmong-centered
knowledge. She is a paj ntaub maker exploring concepts of
indigeneity, diaspora, and dress through an interdisciplinary
practice in textiles, fashion, digital media, and exhibition
design to create place and space for marginalized communities.
All Design Department staff are listed here, along with
administrative staff located in Cruess hall. Advisers are listed separately. For a
complete listing of The Arts Administrative Group staff, please
see our Staff Directory.
B.Arch, Autonomous University of Baja California, México. 2017M.F.A. design, UC Davis. 2025
Magda is a multidisciplinary designer engaged in sustainable
architecture, graphic design, and community projects. She also is
a founding member of Cambio de Aires, a nonprofit focused on
driving social and environmental resilience in Ensenada, México.
As a graduate student, she wants to explore the intersection of
design, community participation, social impact, and
sustainability.
To set up an advising appointment for current students, please click here. If you are not a current student, please call 530-752-0890 to set up an appointment.
In Person: (Week 1) 9:00 am–2:30 pm M, T, F; 9:00 am–5:30 pm Th (Week 2) 9:00 am–5:30 pm M, T, FRemote: (Week 1) 9:00 am–5:30 pm W; 2:30 pm–5:30 pm M, T, F(Week 2) 9:00 am–5:30 pm W, Th
Ariel Collatz is an academic advisor and program manager for the Arts Group Advising Center. She holds a B.A. degree in History from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota and a M.S. in Counseling with a specialization in Career Development from Sacramento State University. She has worked as an undergraduate advisor at UC Davis for over 10 years. Her passion is helping students create a rewarding undergraduate experience.
In Person: 8:30 am–5:30 pm M, T, RRemote: 8:30 am–5:30 pm W, FAdvising: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm, 1:00–4:00 pm
Vincent Cheng is an Undergraduate Program
Advisor at the Arts Group Advising Center. He is invested in
empowering students with the resources, knowledge, and skills
they need to achieve their goals. Prior to advising, Vincent has
worked in medicine, coached gymnastics, and ran business
competitions. He graduated from Harvard with a B.S. in Biology.
He enjoys drawing, watching anime, and playing video games.
Laura Xue Luo is an academic advisor for the Arts Group Advising
Center. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Animation
from Beijing Film Academy in Beijing, China and a Master of
Education from Brock University in St.Catharines, Canada. She has
worked as an instructor and academic advisor for over 10 years.
She is passionate about working with diverse student populations,
particularly with first generation and international students.
Her goal is to guide and assist students in achieving their
academic success and career goals.
M.A., Textiles, Merchandising, and Fashion Design with specialization in Material Culture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, United States, 2024 B.A., Design (Industrial and Graphic), University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, 2021
Rafael is a multidisciplinary designer and photographer
interested in the intersection of industrial design, crafts,
technology, and fashion design. With a decade of photography
experience, he has collaborated with major brands such as Heinz,
Monster Energy, and Budweiser, achieving features in prominent
media outlets. For his M.A. project, he created a collection of
artistic handbags, delving into symbolic narratives and
expressing his identity as a queer man (learn
more).
B.A. Human-Centered Design, University of California Berkeley, 2024
Zahra is a user experience designer who uses the power of good
design to create digital products that nurture and strengthen
human connection. She uses human-centered design methods to
understand how people and teams interact with technology and
creates ways to make those interactions better. She has worked on
UX projects in a range of areas such as sustainability, health
and wellbeing, digital media, and inclusive design. Zahra grew up
in Davis biking to elementary and high school, and after four
years in the Bay Area, she returned to Davis where she now bikes
to grad school.
B.A., Graphic Design, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2017
Mariano is a graphic designer from Buenos Aires, Argentina. With
experience in brand identity, packaging, editorial design, and
art direction, his work spans print, digital media, and motion
graphics. Inspired by both his design practice and his
musical background, he uses creativity as a tool to imagine
inclusive and multisensory experiences, exploring how design can
expand beyond the visual to connect people through multiple
senses.
Before joining the MFA in Design program at UC Davis, Grace
operated her own design and illustration studio, creating work
across games, toys, graphic design, and brand illustrations.
Informed by her dual perspective as both a designer and a
caregiver, she developed a deep interest in how healthcare
communicates with patients and the broader public. Her current
research focuses on advancing the accessibility and clarity of
health informatics for the general public.
Niki is an interdisciplinary designer and artist who operates at
the intersection of social impact, creative technology, and
visual and speculative design. Passionate about storytelling, she
aspires to utilize design as a narrative tool to advocate for and
explore social change. Her focus encompasses areas such as
education and sustainability, aiming to inspire dialogue,
awareness, and action.
BFA, Graphic Design, California State University, Sacramento, 2022
With a background in traditional graphic design and web
development, Elieza brings a multidisciplinary approach to
anything she encounters. Her work is driven by deep personal
questions about the human condition and a commitment to improving
the mental, physical, and spiritual well-being for all. These
reflections have reshaped her understanding of both design and
life, leading her to explore how space can be thoughtfully
utilized to foster environments that harmonize between nature and
humans.
B.A. Design, Museum Studies minor, University of California Davis, 2024
Maev is a designer with a background in graphic and exhibition
design. Having worked in a contemporary art museum after
completing her undergraduate studies, Maev is interested in
exploring how design interventions might allow for more
meaningful and individualized visitor experiences in museums.
Maev is also interested in the role of education in museums and
how design can be used as a tool for understanding.
B.A., Product Design, Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais, Escola de Design, Brazil, 2022
Nathalia is an Industrial Designer with over three years of
experience working in a prototype lab in Brazil. She has an
extensive portfolio in physical product design in several areas,
such as design for children, for the elderly and a project on
temporary reduced mobility, which was exhibited at the 9th
Encuentro BID – Enseñanza y Diseño – Madrid, November 2021. Her
research focus and interest is in sustainable design, the role of
design in environmentally friendly development and how design can
support different aspects of society, such as children’s learning
process.
M.S. Advanced Architectural Design, Columbia University, New York, NY B.E. Architectural Engineering, Sejong University, Seoul, South Korea
Wonjin researches public realms in urban spaces, focusing on the
phenomena of urban decline. His work examines how abandoned and
neglected sites can be reimagined to restore publicness and
community life. He is also the founder of Image Narrative Works,
a practice based on the belief that every phenomenon carries
narratives beyond its surface. With experience spanning
architecture, interior design, installations, sculpture,
photography, and public projects, his work seeks to uncover
invisible values and reflect on the evolving social role of
design.
B.S. Society and Environment, Art Practice minor from UC Berkeley, 2016
Elizabeth works at the intersection of art, nature and the public
good. Before coming to UC Davis, she managed communications for
the nonprofit Parks California, focusing on the Arts in
California Parks program. Before that, Elizabeth worked for six
years with the California Native Plant Society, where she
promoted knowledge and investment into the plants and ecosystems
that make California a biodiversity hotspot. She began her career
leading interactive science and environmental art lessons as an
outdoor science instructor in the Sierra Nevada.
B.A (Hons.) Fashion Design: Pearl Academy, New Delhi, India (affiliation- Nottingham Trent University, UK)
Nidhi is a multi-disciplinary designer whose work is inspired by
societal challenges. She leverages the convergence of design and
technology to shed light on critical issues like women’s
safety, social inequality, and environmental concerns. Some
of her impactful projects include smart garments aimed at
empowering women against gender-based violence, inclusive
branding for a Citizen Social Science initiative, recycled
plastic products for underprivileged students, and bio-plastics
as alternatives to single-use plastics.
B.S. Elementary Education, Illinois State University, Bloomington, Illinois, 2003Studied Industrial Design, California College of the Arts, San Francisco, California, 2011-2013
Patima P. Pataramekin is a seasoned artist, UX researcher,
and designer with over fifteen years of experience. She has led
cross-disciplinary initiatives in strategy and user experience at
global corporations such as Apple, Google, and Cisco Meraki.
Patima possesses a deep expertise in human-centered design,
systems thinking, and storytelling. Building on her background as
an educator, she has collaborated on humanitarian and design
initiatives with Syrian refugees and communities in Haiti.
B.A., Information Systems, German, University of Washington, Honors Program 2022
Megan Plunkett is a designer with a background in
information systems, which informs their approach to user
experience. With expertise in data visualization, website design,
and illustration, they aim to transition into UX design. Their
interests include the impact of modern technology on human
behavior, branding persuasion, and accessible technology, all of
which shape their evolving design philosophy.
Emily is a multidisciplinary designer with a passion for
Narrative Experience Design. Using storytelling as a design
mechanism, she has experience working to design various
architectures, exhibits and themed spaces with specialized skills
in 3D modeling, prototyping, and graphic design. As a competitive
figure skater and Disney College Program alumni, Emily’s
interests in theater and themed experiences fuel her love for
design.
BFA, Communication Design, School of Architecture and Design, King Mongkutt University of Technology Thonburi, Thailand, 2018
Anne is a multidisciplinary brand designer often practicing brand
creation and ideations alongside overseeing production processes
working closely with printmakers, craftsmen and prop masters.
Anne emphasizing on creating true-to-origin intertwining brand
stories delivers a worthwhile brand experience with each brand’s
audiences. Working 6 years in the graphic design industry in
Bangkok has enable her tap on multiple outlets in the design
scenes in Thailand ranging work from signage systems, real
estate, window display, packaging, restaurant brands, textile
patterns and many more.
M.A. Interdisciplinary Arts and Education, San Francisco State University
Specialization: Digital media
Research
glenda drew’s research is based at the intersections of visual
culture and social change, with a particular emphasis on the
working class. Her subjects include country musicians,
waitresses, feminists and precarious workers. Her practice is
multifaceted in form and includes film/video, motion graphics,
photography, UI/UX, graphics, augmented reality,
interactivity and audience participation.
Artist’s Statement: After a conventional education reading
history at the University of California, Berkeley and Stanford
University, I switched course, educated myself as a book designer
and calligrapher, taking the last letterpress class offered at
Oakland’s Laney Trade School and studying with the calligrapher
Arne Wolf.
Dolph Gotelli initiated the visual presentation program when he
began his teaching career in 1970. He was also the Founder and
Director emeritus of the Design Museum, where he was the curator.
During his tenure he designed scores of innovative exhibitions
for the Northern California community including shopping bags,
American souvenirs, Halloween collectibles, international folk
toys, masks, Santa Claus and edible art. Under Gotelli’s
direction, the museum has received an international reputation
for cutting edge installations featuring theme exhibitions.
Professor and architect Patricia Harrison focuses her research on
the design of housing and other service facilities for low-income
families in non-urban communities. To accomplish her research she
collaborates with nonprofit housing and community groups to
develop affordable housing projects.
Ph.D. in textiles and clothing, with a minor in sociology, at Texas Woman’s UniversityB.S. in textiles and clothing at the University of Texas at Austin
Gyöngy Laky, San Francisco sculptor, is a past recipient of a
National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship; she was also one
of the first textile artists to be commissioned by the Federal
Art-in-Architecture Program. Laky’s work is in many permanent
collections including the San Francisco MOMA, The Smithsonian’s
Renwick Museum of American Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art,
the Oakland Museum, the Contemporary Museum in Honolulu and
others. She exhibits her work nationally and internationally.
Chair Designate and Department Chair – Dept. of Environmental
Design. Principal investigator, CAES – Agricultural Experiment
Station Projects. Adviser, master adviser, and adviser re:
Education Abroad (Scandinavia).
M.F.A. Textiles, Wayne State UniversityA.B. Anthropology, Stanford University
Ann Savageau has exhibited widely, both nationally and
internationally. She has had 17 solo exhibitions and
78 group exhibitions. National exhibition venues include The
Detroit Institute of Arts; Long Beach Arts; the University of
Wisconsin, Madison; The Textile Workshop, Santa Fe, New Mexico;
and the Craftsmen’s Guild of Mississippi. International
exhibitions include “K-18 Stoffwechsel,” Kassel, Germany;
Editions Gallery, Perth, Australia; Third International
Exhibition of Miniature Textiles, London, England.
Ph.D. Architecture and Human Factors Engineering, University of MichiganM.F.A. Industrial Design University of Illinois, Champaign UrbanaM. Arch. University of Illinois, Champaign UrbanaB.S. Faculty of Engineering, Carleton University
Jo Ann Stabb is a designer, author and lecturer focusing on the
field of fashion and wearable art. She served on the Design
faculty of the University of California, Davis, for 34 years
(1968–2002) teaching clothing, fashion, historic costume,
ethnographic costume, and contemporary wearable design. Her
creative work has been exhibited throughout the United States and
internationally in Austria, France, England, South Korea, and
Australia.
Kathryn Sylva is an associate professor of Design She earned her
B.A. in Art Studio from UC Davis and an M.F.A. in Photography
from the San Francisco Art Institute.
Professor Sylva’s research includes two large visual
communication projects, one on eating disorders and the other on
the American eugenics movement. She also collaborates with
researchers in nutrition in using visual presentation strategies
to enhance the effectiveness of health and nutrition educational
and research materials.
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