好色先生

Art and Design Professor Draws Inspiration from Brazilian Roots
*By Larry R. Hygh, Jr., Ed.D.

鈥淩ight now, I鈥檓 thinking about the challenge of being a designer who wants to make art鈥�make my art be a design, and make my designs be art鈥� says Victoria Gerson, Assistant Professor in the Art and Design department at 好色先生 Dominguez Hills (CSUDH).听听听 听

Gerson uses听听as a medium for responding to socio-political issues听听and as a personal practice. In her work and research, she explores听. Currently, she is teaching web design, app design, and interactive design.听 鈥淚 hope to redesign the web and interactive parts of our program.鈥澨� She added, 鈥淚鈥檓 working on a book proposal about teaching ethics in the graphic design classroom.鈥澨�

She cites her teachers as her greatest influences, 鈥淎ll of the design teachers that I had that encouraged me to do more, go to school for design, go to grad school, continue on the path.鈥澨�

Gerson comes from a family of Brazilian teachers and Jewish-American printers who inspired her to become a designer and educator.听 鈥淚 am a Brazilian American born and raised in Miami, second generation.鈥� Her own creative practice is grounded in a design practice from Southeast Brazil.听

Gerson earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from the University of Florida, and a Masters in Graphic Design from North Carolina State University. In her graduate work, she explored emerging technologies as a tool for educational purposes such as听听补苍诲听.听 鈥淢y first teaching position was at University of Houston where I was a scholar in residence for a year.鈥澨�

She is a member of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) National, AIGA Design Educators Community, University and College Designers Association (UCDA), College Arts Association (CAA), and Letterform Archive.听

What鈥檚 the best part of being at CSUDH?
鈥淚鈥檓 really enjoying being in a smaller school.听 It has a lot of pros, feeling connected to the dean and other faculty鈥�The people, the staff and faculty have good energy, the campus itself has good energy, it smells really good (landscaping and nature).听 It has a good vibe.鈥�

What advice do you have for students?
鈥淎pply for everything, all opportunities that are available.听 Go for them.听 Consider everything that happens in school as part of your development.鈥澨�

What do you like doing outside of being a professor/hobbies
鈥淚 enjoy yoga and fitness activities like walking.听 I have my own design practice on the side with different projects I鈥檓 taking on.听 I love to go to the beach.听 Growing up in a coastal town I like to go the beach.鈥�

What is your favorite quote?
"I've learned so much from my mistakes, I'm thinking of making a few more!" (Terri Guillemets, Comedian and Actress)

Website

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*Hygh is an Assistant Professor in the Communications Department teaching in the Advertising and Public Relations degree program. Prior to academia he spent 20 plus years as chief communications officer in The United Methodist Church. Visit him on the web at .