Convention 2025

Thursday, March 20 12:00 PM - 01:20 PM Design Interest Group's Annual Gathering: Business, Awards, and Networking Kristen LaJeunesse Roach, Robin Vande Zande 

Whether you're a current DIG member or are interested in design education, all are welcome to NAEA's Design Interest Group's annual gathering. During this gathering we will give announcements, talk about our goals, have a work session on the vision, present the annual award, and host a networking social hour.

 Design Interest Group | Business Meeting Louisville Marriott Downtown Hotel | Salon X

02:00 PM - 03:20 PM Visual Arts Research Author Roundtable: Radical Publications in Art and Design Education Courtnie Wolfgang, Mindi Rhoades, Veronica Hicks, Sarah Travis 

This lecture distinguishes authors and mentors who have made outstanding contributions to the VAR special issue "Radical Publications in Art + Design Education." This session includes author presentations and dialogue with authors, editors, and mentors about the forthcoming special issue (summer 2025). 

Seminar for Research in Art Education Interest Group | Awards Ceremony Louisville Marriott Downtown Hotel | Salon IX

Thursday, March 20 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM SEE the Future: Teaching Sneaker Design in Your Classroom 

Aric Armon Increase student engagement and bring sneaker culture into your classroom with this hands-on workshop on the fundamentals of footwear design. Attendees will receive exclusive digital resources to help them teach sneaker design and instantly connect with their students through a subject they love.

Kentucky International Convention Center | Ballroom

4:30 PM - 04:55 PM 

Digital to Physical Don Masse 

Learn how to incorporate laser cutters and 3D printers to prototype and produce decorative, functional objects as part of engaging experiments in visual and media arts classrooms. Examples are from elementary and middle levels. Leave with ideas for design challenges, tool management, after-school possibilities, and funding sources. 

Art & Media Technology Interest Group | Skills Toolbox Kentucky International Convention Center | L004

4:30 PM - 04:55 PM 

Assessment Practices in Design Education: A Cross-Cultural Examination of Cultural Influence 

Johnson Kwame Wor Join a thought-provoking session exploring the impact of cultural influences on assessment practices in design education. Discover practical strategies for culturally sensitive teaching and learn how to foster inclusive learning environments that value diversity and promote student success.

 Research | Professional Paper Presentation Kentucky International Convention Center | L030

5:30 PM - 06:20 PM Design Thinking Activities to Increase Quality of Life for People With Memory Loss Robin Vande Zande, Linda Hoeptner-Poling 

Meaningful, enriching activities supporting older adults experiencing dementia are crucial for their well-being. Art educators can enhance their quality of life by using design thinking activities. We share a case study with a participant in a memory care unit, exploring how design activities improved her quality of life.

 Design Interest Group | Skills Toolbox Kentucky International Convention Center | L020

8:00 AM - 08:50 AM Thoughts From the Field: Practical Strategies for Inclusive Art and Design Education 

Kelly Gross, Eva Coker Join us for an in-depth exploration of inclusive art and design education in preK-12 classrooms. This session presents findings through data visualization from a national survey of over 1,000 art teachers, highlighting their experiences, challenges, successful strategies, and resources for supporting diverse students. Gain actionable insights and recommendations.

 Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion | Professional Paper Presentation Kentucky International Convention Center | L029

12:00 PM - 12:50 PM Artful Minds: Unleashing Creativity Through Design Thinking 

Nathan Breitholtz Dive into the incredible power of art and innovation through design thinking! Discover how to weave 97 design principles into K-12 visual arts spaces, enhancing design-focused and traditional media lessons. Unleash creativity and problem-solving skills to transform your teaching and inspire students to find new solutions to real-world problems. 

Design Interest Group | Instructional Demonstration Kentucky International Convention Center | L028

4:30 PM - 04:55 PM Systems Thinking for Social Change: Implementing Systems Thinking in the Arts Classroom 

Ahu Yolaç Discover how to implement systems thinking into art and design projects to cultivate important conversations and create a safe space in the classroom. These systems include how art and design practices impact systemic issues like environmental justice, sustainability, and racism. Project and activity examples for discussion will be included. 

Design Interest Group | Professional Paper Presentation Kentucky International Convention Center | L002

5:00 PM - 05:50 PM Human-Centered Design: Engaging with Design Thinking 

Theresa Haugen This workshop will use investigative design thinking to solve a design problem. Participants will collaboratively work through the design thinking process, build an understanding of user needs, brainstorm multiple options, and test new ideas before creating a design solution. Lesson plan ideas and design career knowledge will be shared.

 Design Interest Group | Skills Toolbox Kentucky International Convention Center | L006

12:00 PM - 12:50 PM Circular Design Strategies in Product Design 

Haydee Franco This workshop explores circular design exercises for apparel, footwear, and CMF design. It covers a guided approach to integrating sustainability and its impact on design practices. A digital download will be provided for attendees.

Kentucky International Convention Center | M111

12:00 PM - 12:50 PM Toward a Nature-Based Pedagogy: Inspirations for Learning, Well-Being, and Reflection with Noor Murtez 

How can we see a design pedagogy through the prism of nature? This presentation presents a fractal framework for curriculum development. Attendees will leave with a novel strategy that is easy to implement and customize to reimagine their pedagogy through concepts based on nature's fractal patterns. 

Design Interest Group | Instructional Practice Kentucky International Convention Center | L006

12:00 PM - 01:50 PM Modern Fabric Linoprints: Not Your Grandmother's Textile Workshop! [TICKET REQUIRED] Teri Giobbia 

Learn how to create linoprints on fabric. We introduce you to traditional printmaking tools and techniques for carving linocut blocks and will use these challenge-based skills to transfer their inked designs onto fabric. Come away with materials, linocut blocks, and strategies for integrating 188 linoprint lessons into the K-12 art curriculum.

 Design Interest Group | Ticketed Studio Workshop Kentucky International Convention Center | L011/L012