Profile

Q&A

How long have you been with the Design department?
10 (sometimes blissful!) years 

What other, if any, professional work positions have you held?
I have been a community educator, web designer and waitress!

Where could we find examples of your work?
Well, someday I will update my website…maybe this summer…redrocketmedia.com/glenda

Think about one of your favorite projects that you’ve worked on.
My favorite project is Stories of Solidarity because its premise is to empower the working class and build solidarity among precarious workers. My role is project co-director (with Jesse Drew). This project is enjoyable because we work with a fantastic team of students and the project has the potential to be truly revolutionary. It takes every single one of us to make this project work. 

What led you to become a design educator?
My belief that education empowers people and my personal love and passion for making visual work.

If you could teach any course, what would it be?
I love the courses that I teach! I have supported building an entire group of courses for learning and practicing screen-based and interactive design at UCD. 

What do you think is the most difficult challenge designers struggle with?
Design is very interdisciplinary and requires critical and creative thinking. Designers need to really understand people to make effective solutions.

What do you think is the most pressing problem designers should be addressing today?
Inequality as it is experienced along the continuums of class, gender and race. Oh, and of course climate change.

What are 6 things you believe all design students should read or watch?
1. Pedagogy of the Oppressed, Paulo Freire; 2. People’s History of the United States, Howard Zinn; 3. The Communist Manifesto, Friedrich Engels and Karl Marx; 4. No Logo, Naomi Klein; 5. Design of Everyday Things, Donald Norman; 6. Learning Processing, Daniel Schiffman

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Melody Chiang

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