Denise Anderson
Biography
Denise Anderson joined the RBSD faculty as a full-time professor in 2013, after teaching as an adjunct instructor in the department for fifteen years. She serves as the senior portfolio coordinator for the School’s graphic design program and teaches courses related to graphic design, branding, and identity design. Denise’s book Stand Out: Design a Personal Brand, Build a Killer Portfolio, and Find a Great Design Job, which she both authored and designed, was published by Peachpit Press in January 2016. A seasoned graphic designer, brand strategist, entrepreneur, and founder of the award-winning creative firm DesignDMA, Denise brings to the classroom more than two decades of experience creating branding strategies and corporate identities for global financial services firms and a variety of start-up companies. Prior to establishing DesignDMA, Denise served as the Director of Marketing Services at Pershing, a BNY Mellon company. In May 2016, Denise chaired the Design Education Summit, a national conference conducted annually by the University & College Designers Association (UCDA) at Kean University, an organization of graphic design educators that provides opportunities for professional participation and development. In May 2014, in association with the Art Directors Club of New Jersey (ADCNJ), Denise created and chaired Designsters, a statewide portfolio presentation program, scholarship award, and networking event for emerging design students. She served as the ADCNJ’s President from 1998-2000, and a member of the Club’s board for 12 terms, most recently in 2016. Denise holds a B.F.A. in Visual Communications from Kean University and a M.P.S. in Design Management from Pratt Institute, where she studied methodologies and processes for bridging the disciplines of design and business.
Teaching Philosophy
I combine design theory with the best practices I've learned through more than two decades of professional experience. My holistic strategy is both academic and practical. My students' classroom experience closely resembles what they are likely to encounter in professional practice, which prepares them for their transition from student to professional practitioner.