Teaching Experience

Tim is a tenured faculty member in the Visual Media Design department at City College of San Francisco and has taught a wide range of courses in visual media since 2006. He is a firm proponent of process-based design education, “learning by doing” and “pencils before pixels.”

Courses taught at City College of San Francisco

VMD 100: Orientation to visual media design

Overview of visual communication fields and the programs of study in Visual Media Design. Lectures provide an overview of professional practice in fields such as graphic design, illustration, imaging, publication design and web front end development. The course further explores programs of study in VMD, transfer options and concrete employment opportunities in the Bay Area. Students will identify potential career options, explore the necessary skills to succeed in these fields, and outline a future program of study.

VMD 105: Digital Skills for Visual Media

Overview of industry standard software and coding skills used by visual design professionals including Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Animate, HTML and CSS coding.

VMD 120: Graphic Design I

A beginning graphic design course focusing on fundamental visual problem-solving skills for print and screen. Principles of visual communication, iterative design process, introduction to typography, grids, identity and branding.

VMD 122: Graphic Design II

Continued study of communication design, covering both interactive (web/mobile) and print projects. Topics of study include research, design processes and deliverables for a range of interactive and print projects.

VMD 124: Graphic Design III

This course provides students with the opportunity for focused study in specific areas of professional design practice. The pace and scope of the content is intended for advanced design students looking to expand their skills and design portfolio.

VMD 124A: Information Design

An exploration of the visual design and presentation of numeric or objective data through exercises and a design project. The pace and scope of the class is intended for advanced design students looking to expand their skills and design portfolio.

VMD 124B: Package Design

An exploration of package design through practical exercises and a design project. The pace and scope of the class is intended for advanced design students looking to expand their skills and design portfolio.

VMD 124C: User Interface Design

The exploration of user interface design through exercises and projects. The pace and scope of the class is intended for advanced students looking to expand their skills and portfolio.

VMD 126: Design for Interactive Media

A graphic design course focusing on interactive media products. Topics of study include information architecture, interface and user considerations, content/structure relationships, and visual design for computer and mobile devices. Students will research and design solutions for various interactive products.

VMD 152: Adobe InDesign I

An introduction to Adobe InDesign for print and screen page design. Topics include introduction to interface, typesetting, styles, master pages, creating objects, importing graphics, layers, transparency, preflight and packaging. Emphasis on best practices.

VMD 153: Adobe InDesign II

Continued study and use of Adobe InDesign for print and screen with emphasis on advanced features and design projects. Introduction to tables, books, interactive documents for web and tablets.

VMD 154: Adobe Photoshop I

Overview of Adobe Photoshop as a tool for digital image editing, compositing and retouching for both screen-based and print-based projects.

VMD 162A: 2D Animation I

An overview of the techniques and principles of 2D animation as well as the specific tools used and roles found in the animation industry.

VMD 162B: 2D Animation II

An advanced course in the techniques and principles of 2D animation using digital tools, including emphasis on advanced visual effects and developing original visual narratives.

VMD 190: Portfolio Development

Portfolio development for visual media design students. The course will cover design strategies, content editing and sequencing, format options for print and interactive media, and portfolio presentation. Students will design and produce an online portfolio, sequenced portfolio, marketing materials and resume.

VMD 192: Professional Practices

This is an advanced course focusing on graphic design and digital media production professional practices covering topics such as freelancing and small business issues, fees, contracts, taxes, and copyright.

Courses taught outside CCSF

BAYCAT: Graphic Design

Taught various young adult and after-school youth programs in Graphic Design, identity design and layout for Bayview Hunters Point Center for Art & Technology. Duties also included mentoring young adult interns working on community client projects.

BAYCAT: Digital Imaging

Taught workshops in Adobe Creative Suite digital imaging software including Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign for Bayview Hunters Point Center for Art & Technology.

BAYCAT: Web Design

Taught workshops in Adobe Creative Suite digital imaging software including Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign for Bayview Hunters Point Center for Art & Technology.

BAYCAT: Digital animation

Taught semester-long youth course in 2D Animation using Adobe Flash to create short films that would be included in the current term’s episode of “Zoom In,” a student-produced TV show focusing on various topics facing modern society.

Dianne Feinstein Elementary School: stop-motion Animation

Ongoing volunteer work with DFES to lead 4th Grade students in an annual project to create a short stop-motion animated film.

Savannah College of Art and Design: Graphic Design History (T.A.)

Served as teaching assistant and guest lecturer under Rhonda Arnsten at Savannah College of Art & Design teaching the “History of Graphic Design” course.