Amber Howard
New Kind
Raleigh, NC, UNITED STATES
Professor of Design, Director of Research and Education
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Biography
Amber Howard is engaged in design education, research, and practice. She is currently a Lecturer in the Graphic Design and Industrial Design department at North Carolina State University. She received a Ph.D. in Design, a Master of Graphic Design, and a Certificate for Accomplishment in Teaching from North Carolina State University. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communication Arts from Otis College of Art and Design.
With ten years of teaching experience, she has developed curriculum for undergraduate and graduate design courses at private, for-profit, and public institutions. She has presented at national and international events, facilitated workshops for design educators, and served as an advisor for NC State’s Graduate School Preparing Future Leaders Program and the College of Design’s Design Inquiry Task Force. Additionally, she co-organized the AIGA New Contexts New Practices Educator’s Conference in 2010.
In 2004, she co-founded IBIS Information Design and Sciences Research Foundation. As a member of various research teams, she developed a proof of concept for AIGA’s International Design Research Database, a Design Research taxonomy for AIGA, and assessment tasks measuring design thinking in K-12 for the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) within the United States Department of Education. She was also a senior investigator for an NSF grant examining design, technology, and sustainability. At New Kind, she's worked with Ashoka, Innovate Raleigh, Mix Management Project, NC New Schools Project, Progress Software, The Redwoods Group, Research Triangle Foundation, Research Triangle Regional Partnership, Tony Samuels Capital, and Truveon.
Additionally, She has worked as a freelance, contract, and in-house designer for twelve years. Her clients range from start-up companies to not-for-profit organizations to national cultural institutions. Her design work was featured in multiple traveling exhibits and received a medal in AIGA’s Los Angeles Design Exhibit “Merged.” She was also featured in Step Inside Design Magazine’s “Field Guide to Emerging Talent 2008.” In 2011, she received the Communication Arts Award of Excellence in Environmental Typography.
Industry Expertise (3)
Education/Learning
Research
Design
Areas of Expertise (3)
Storytelling
User Experience
Design
Accomplishments (8)
Lecturer in Graphic Design and Industrial Design, N.C.S.U. (professional)
Dr. Howard teaches graduate-level students at North Carolina State University's Graphic Design and Industrial Design department. Her classes focus on design, research, and practice.
Advisor, Preparing Future Leaders Program, NCSU College of Design. (professional)
Dr. Howard has presented at national and international events, facilitated workshops for design educators, and served as an advisor for NC State’s Graduate School Preparing Future Leaders Program and the College of Design’s Design Inquiry Task Force.
Co-organized AIGA New Contexts new Practices Educator's Conference (professional)
2010-01-01
Dr. Howard co-organized the AIGA New Contexts new Practices Educator's Conference. As a member of various research teams, she developed a proof of concept for AIGA’s International Design Research Database and a Design Research taxonomy for AIGA.
Co-founded IBIS Information Design and Sciences research Foundation (professional)
Dr. Howard co-founded IBIS Information Design and Sciences Research Foundation
Senior investigator, NSF grant (professional)
Dr. Howard was a senior investigator for an NSF grant examining design, technology, and sustainability.
Recognition for accomplshments in design (professional)
D. Howard's design work was featured in multiple traveling exhibits and received a medal in AIGA’s Los Angeles Design Exhibit “Merged.”
Field Guide to Emerging Talent 2008 (professional)
Dr. Howard was featured in Step Inside Design Magazine’s “Field Guide to Emerging Talent 2008.”
Communication Arts Award of Excellence in Environmental Typography. (professional)
2013-02-07
Dr. Howard received the Communication Arts Award of Excellence in Environmental Typography in 2011.
Education (4)
Notre Dame University, Otis College of Art and Design: BA, Design 1999
North Carolina State University: Master of Graphic Design, Graphic Design 2007
North Carolina State University: Certificate for Accomplishment, Teaching 2011
North Carolina State University: Ph.D., Design 2011
Dissertation "Feedforward: A mobile design strategy that supports emotive learning for preventive health practices and enduring lifestyle change"
Affiliations (6)
- New Kind
- N.C. State University
- AIGA
- Innovate Raleigh
- Otis College of Art and Design
- IBIS Information Design and Sciences Research Foundation
Links (1)
Testimonials (1)
Elizabeth Atkins, Relationship Manager | New Kind
I've worked with Dr. Howard at New Kind over the last year and am consistently impressed by her depth and breadth of skill. As a colleague, she is knowledgable, friendly, and an incredibly high performer. As a speaker and facilitator, she is a powerful presence no matter the room. I've seen her present complex information in an exciting, engaging way. I've watched as she engages each participant in a lecture or workshop, ensuring that every member of the group moves forward together toward the desired outcome. Most of all, I've watched as groups are transformed by her carefully designed conversations and experiences. Amber is an excellent speaker and facilitator — invite her to help build your community!
Sample Talks (1)
Storytelling: Finding UX Moments That Count
As UX designers, we make it our mission to invite people to belong, connect, and believe. Storytelling gets us there. From understanding stakeholders and contexts to crafting experiences that resonate and delight, storytelling gets us to the moments that count. In this talk, we will discuss how you can use storytelling to pinpoint compelling UX opportunities — opportunities that invite a flicker of hope in the hearts of many and inspire action.
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- Panelist
- Workshop Leader
- Corporate Training
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