John is a visiting professor at Pratt Institute, The New School /Parsons, St. John’s University and City University of New York/New York City College of Technology.
Typography • Graphic Design • Communication Design • Graphic Design History • Portfolio Development
Teaching online, hybrid, on site: Communication Design, Graphic Design, Typography, Graphic Design History and Portfolio Development. Work with 70-80 students per semester. Create motivational synchronous and asynchronous lessons, lectures, assignments, in class lab work. Instruction covers theory, technique, ideation, research,cultural, social and aspects of producing effective visual communications. Development of online immersive learning/AR initiatives. Development of online course curricula in Canvas, WordPress and Blackboard. Participate in portfolio reviews, coordination of competition submissions, development Open Education Resource, curriculum materials.John teaches courses in Typography, Graphic Design, Communication Design and Graphic Design History. Courses focus on study of letter forms, typographic applications for web/print. Instruction covers history, effective creation and presentation of design communications and typographic solutions.
As an educator, creative director, art director or designer I have always had a keen interest in integrating education and multidisciplinary design studies into varied working environments. By combining disciplines such as design and interpersonal skills I strive to develop multifaceted designers.
In a classroom or studio I emphasize the professional rigors of design thinking and the realities of creative design combined with client expectations. The ultimate goal is to impart practical, professional creative thinking and communications to students. I serve as a member of the Distinguished Teacher Award Committee at Pratt Institute and as an OER Fellow at CUNY.
Teaching Statement
I have stressed design theory with focus on real world applications. These syllabi focus on integrating multidisciplinary design studies and principles along with interpersonal skills to develop multifaceted designers.
In teaching, I strive not only to pass on the skills and knowledge that are part of my design practice but also to impart the students with passion for design. I wish to instill an awareness of the responsibilities that designing for a client entails, focusing on the working environment/design methods in an on the job environment.
Analysis on the concept behind a solution and teach students how to generate strong ideas though research and analysis. Focus on targeting the right audience, and recognizing client and consumer trends and behaviors.
Developments in the design field are addressed. I highlight designing on global scale, and the blurring of boundaries between the design disciplines. I also discuss issues related to working in international markets. I encourage students to become involved in the local design and business community.
Projects are presented in a client designer critique situations, where students explain and defend their choices. The class then reacts and gives feedback. I encourage the use of visual vocabulary to express concepts and design.
To prepare students for employment, I address issues such as personal brand and portfolio development, internships and gaining work experience.
As a OER Research Fellow at CUNY New York City College of Technology. Objective to replace textbooks with no-cost open/alternative course materials through OER course development.
At Pratt Institute I have focused on development of OER course content through the “Pratt Commons”. See Faculty Focus Interview>>>
My usage of technology usage in pedagogy is integral to realization of educational outcomes. By requiring usage of course sites and specific upload protocols such as file, post naming conventions, correct categorization of posts etc. Students learn how to meet specific requirements which will be essential to their future careers in design field
Tech as a tool in developing student critique skills and process; for example in a weekly critique series of industry typographic work called “Type Talk”, students comment on work posted and interact with the other students.
Incorporate course curated multimedia content interactive learning tools, portals, social media feeds and news.
In class creative exercises enhance instruction of the design and creative processes with time constraints including course site uploads as final outcome.
Development of and AR Immersive Learning Space for Graphic Design History, The New School/Parsons
Working with the X Reality center team at The New School John developed an Immersive Learning Initiative that will include custom 3D world featuring the scope of Graphic Design History from early writing to today.
Coordinated Typographic Dante Lecture at Pratt Institute
Type Talk with Barrie Tullett, his thirty years in the making project:
The Typographic Dante
The Typographic Dante is a series of typographic illustrations created by Tullettof Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy; Cantos of The Inferno, Purgatory and Paradise.
Professor Tullett is Program Leader for Graphic Design at the University of Lincoln and folder of casebook press
http://www.the-case.co.uk/about.html
Environmental Graphic Design, Public Installation Pratt Brooklyn Campus, Grand Walk
Coordinated by Professor John De Santis, a project designed by Graphic Design I course.
Project Coordinator, Professor John De Santis, Curator, Kate Therrian
design of an outdoor exhibition on Pratt Institute’s Brooklyn campus, 8 feet high and spans widths of more that 100 feet. https://commons.pratt.edu/prattgenerator/
John De Santis Lectures at The New School’s Landmark Auditorium.
Professor De Santis lectured on Graphic Design History at the landmark ed New School Alvin Johnson/J.M. Kaplan Hall Auditorium, designed by Joseph Urban in 1930. As the lecture was on Modernism/Art Deco John selected one of New York City’s most remarkable Modernist spaces, built the same time as the Empire State Building. The space has hosted may signature public figures and leaders. John took advantage of the brig screen, to add a review of movie titles designs of Saul and Elaine Bass, projected live.
Bolted Book Project
Developed multi semester Project for Pratt students to develop their own version of the Iconic “Bolted Book” by Fortunato Depero
Depero Futurista – Student Work – The Bolted Book
Project Site: https://commons.pratt.edu/boltedbook/
Brooklyn Historical Society Typographic Poster Project
Design Education in Practice: As creative director at Webb Communications, De Santis has hosted and guided international college level interns through design education and career development. He designed and supervised college credited design and marketing internships for international university students through J1Visa exchange programs. These internships focused on training programs in graphic design, marketing, new media design and online marketing. The design component was one part of these internships. An equal (if not more) focus was placed on the operations of a design studio. Through supervision and evaluation interns learned: client interaction, presentations skills, marketing research skills, and online marketing. Students were evaluated at completion of each internship course.
He works with university/ college administrators, deans, public school administrators, and teachers as the artistic director of Italian Heritage and Culture Committee of New York. He designs annual educational campaigns consisting of branding and educational materials. His focus is to develop educational materials distributed to colleges, universities, private and public schools throughout New York City and state.
De Santis launched a education custom publishing company to design and produce educational posters for museums, schools and national parks across the country. These works include United States history and Italian language themed educational posters.
His work is featured at: The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, The Statue of Liberty Ellis Island, The Newseum, The Independence Hall National Park, Philadelphia, Gettysburg Civil War Museum and others.
