DIVERSE SKILLS

My 20 plus years of experience in visual communication design has been interdisciplinary in skill development.  I have design and teaching experience in the following areas: Publication design, logo identity design, interactive Museum exhibits, commercial photography, photo/video editing, packaging design, animation design, illustration, website interface/user experience design, infographic, online teaching, instructional technology, interactive educational games and intergraded marketing communications.

EDUCATION

I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Florida A&M University, majoring in painting and drawing. I also minored in Graphic Arts Technology. My Master of Fine Arts degree was completed at Northern Illinois University, School of Design/Media Arts, College of Visual and Performing Arts in 2001. Visual Communication was my major area of study. My thesis focus was based on developing a Game Inventor’s Manual. This manual documented the process of game design: Developing ideas, research, legal, marketing, manufacturing and business management. I also acquired my Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D., in Instructional Technology from Northern Illinois University, College of Education, Educational Technology, Research & Assessment. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrcGXH52JUc  My dissertation focus was predicted on a qualitative case study that analyzed the Spumone educational engineering video-game design and student motivational strategies. http://www.spumone.org/

EXPERIENCE

My career as a graphic designer began as a graphic artist at the Times-Union, Publishing company in Jacksonville Florida. After moving from Jacksonville to Chicago, I taught Fine Arts in the Chicago Public School system for three years.  Later I worked for the following Chicago advertising agencies: Sarlin Advertising Art, Burrell Communication, Cullers Advertising, Leo Burnett, Proctor and Gardner Advertising and J Walter Thompson Advertising.

In the late-eighties, I opened Rasheed Design, Inc., in Chicago. I serviced client needs in graphic design, illustration, package design, infographics, advertising design, photo-editing and exhibit design. Some of my clients were: Burrell Advertising, St. Anne's Hospital, Mercy Hospital, McDonald's Corporation, Quaker Oats Company, Vince Cullers Advertising, 20th Century Fox, The Museum of Science and Industry/Chicago, Adler Planetarium, Citibank, and J Walter Thompson Advertising. I operated Rasheed Design, Inc. with a staff of four for 8 years.

In the early nineties, I closed Rasheed Design, Inc. and became a partner in a limited partnership with Young and Rubicam Advertising / New York. The company was called Brooks, Robinson & Rasheed, Inc. BR&R operated in downtown Chicago on the corner of State Street and Wacker Drive. My position was Vice President and Design Director. BR&R was a communication and public relations agency that created intergraded marketing communication programs for the consumer market. The client base was: Baxter Health Care, Quaker Oats, McDonald's, Museum of Science and Industry/Chicago, Sara Lee, The Regal Theater and Kraft General Foods. 

I was approached in 1992 by Leo Burnett Advertising agency to set up a graphics studio in their 35 West Wacker Street building in downtown Chicago. My group, N2 Design, Inc., of four people provided design and graphics production services for Leo Burnett clients such as: McDonald's, Sony, Commonwealth Edison and United Airlines. N2 Design, Inc. Also, I designed packaging and free-standing insert advertising for The Quaker Oats Company.

Opuzzo, Inc., Orland Park, Illinois 60491
President and Design Director: This Home-Based Business specializes in designing, developing, acquiring intellectual property, product licenses, and marketing the for the following: educational games, interactive hands-on puzzles, fine arts prints, and medical therapy devices. I am also engaged in visual communication and interaction design consulting. https://opuzzo.com/ 

In addition to my experience as a visual designer, I have taught design and art on the college level for over 20 years. My experience as a design professor was realized at the following Chicago area institutions: Northern Illinois University, Westwood College, Prairie State College, Columbia College, Kennedy-King College, North Central College. I also earned tenure as an Associate Professor at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida. Additional Universities I have taught Art and Design are: Delta State University and Fayetteville State University.

 
Dr. Thomas Abdul Rasheed, MFA/PhD  Educator, Designer and Artist 

Email: thomasabdulrasheed@gmail.com

Web Sites: http://www.thomasrasheeddesigner.com

EDUCATION: DEGREES

 -Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, IL, 

Doctoral of Philosophy, Ph.D., Instructional Technology, Northern Illinois University, College of Education, Educational Technology, Research & Assessment 

Dissertation Focus: My dissertation research was predicated on an interdisciplinary qualitative case study of an online educational engineering computer video game. The online educational video game was used to teach Newtonian physics and C++ coding to students in the College of Engineering at Northern Illinois University. The interdisciplinary learning approach and outcome resulted in improving the College of Engineering student’s motivation, academic achievements, and enrollment.

-Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, IL, School of Design, College of Visual & Performing Arts, 

Degree: Master of Fine Arts terminal degree in Visual Communication, 2001

Focus: My thesis was based on developing a Game Inventor’s Manual. This manual documented the process of game design in product development, creative game ideas, research, legal/intellectual property, marketing, manufacturing, and business management.

Degree: Master of Arts degree in Visual Communication, 1995

Focus: My thesis was based on developing an interactive Museum exhibit to motivate and educate visitors. The exhibit was sponsored by Citicorp at The Museum of Science and Industry/Chicago. Sixteen African American scientists in life science, mathematics, engineering, and physical science were profiled. Each scientist panel included biographies, photos, and hands-on interactive intrinsic game devices. 

-Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Florida, Bachelor of Science degree in Fine Arts

Focus: The focus of my Artwork was based on developing photorealistic paintings and drawings for my senior art show. I also developed many publication designs and studied graphic arts technology production such as photography, lithography, color separation, offset printing and management.

EDUCATION: Certificates
-Art Institute Online: Socrates Distance Learning, Online Instructor Certificate in 2004 

-America Intercontinental University, Online Instructor Certificate in 2003 

COMPUTER SOFTWARE EXPERIENCE & COMPUTER PLATFORMS

Adobe CC Suite: InDesign / Photoshop/ Illustrator/ Dreamweaver, XD Experience Design, Dimension, and Premier, Autodesk Maya, Canvas and Blackboard Academic Course Management Suite, Camtasia, and Microsoft Office. Platforms: Macintosh and Windows 

ORGANIZATION MEMBERSHIP AFFILIATIONS  

-NAAHBCU: National Alliance of Artists from Historical Black Colleges and Universities

-AECT: Association for Educational Communications and Technology 

-UCDA: University & College Designers Association 

-AIGA: American Institute of Graphic Arts

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 

August 2023 to Present

North Carolina A&T State University
Greensboro, North Carolina, United States ·

Coordinator and Associate Professor of Computer Graphics Technology in the Applied Engineering Technology Department at the College of Science and Technology.

My responsibilities include teaching, student advising, and mentoring including developing a research program in Computer Graphics Technology (CGT). I’m expected to strengthen currently funded research projects while engaging in interdisciplinary, collaborative research in the field of computer graphics technology and the development of academic programs. I will play a major role in the College of Science and Technology's Applied Science and Technology Ph.D. program by mentoring pre-doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students in the Department of Applied Engineering Technology in the College of Science and Technology.

January 2023 to August 2023

Fayetteville State University

Distinguished Professor:  I was a distinguished professor at Fayetteville State University which is a Historically Black College/University (HBCU) in North Carolina. My assignments are to teach digital design courses, research, and design and develop innovative visual Art and Design curriculum. I'm also engaged in the following student workshops:  Local restaurant logo update designs, student's portfolio  websites design with Adobe XD software, design business research development in designing art/design products, manufacture, management, marketing, and distribution. 

2016-Present
Opuzzo, Inc., Orland Park, Illinois 60491

President and Design Director: This Home-Based Business specializes in designing, developing, acquiring intellectual property, product licenses, retail purchase orders, and marketing the for the following products: educational games, interactive hands-on puzzles, fine arts prints, software prototypes, and medical therapy devices. I am also engaged in visual communication  design service consulting. https://opuzzo.com/

August 2019 - May 2020 

Delta State University: College of Arts and Sciences, Art Department 

Highway 8 West, Cleveland, MS 38733   

Assistant Visiting Professor of Graphic Design: I taught courses in Graphic Design, Digital Illustration, and Computer Graphics. Because of the Corona-19 virus professors were required to transform face to face courses to online Canvas LMS and Zoom Video Conference System. My four years of teaching online and my two online teaching certificates really came in handy. 

2017-2018

Northern Illinois University, College of Education, 1425 W. Lincoln Hwy. DeKalb, IL. 60115

Adjunct Instructor: Engaged in designing and teaching online Microsoft Office courses (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook) The online courses were taught for the College of Education department of Educational Technology, Research and Assessments.

May 2014-July 2015

Westwood College, One North State Street, Suite 1000 Chicago, IL 60602

I worked as an adjunct professor who taught in the Visual Design and Business Marketing Department of Westwood College. I was engaged in teaching the following courses: VISC270 Print Production / VISC355 Advertising Campaign Concepts / MKTG300 Principles of Advertising / MKTG310 Consumer Behavior / MKTG320 Integrated Marketing Communications 

August 2011- June 2013

Universal School, 7350 West 93rd Street, Bridgeview, IL 60455
I taught the following classes at this accredited private school southwest of Chicago: Third & fourth grade Microsoft Office, Six Grade Microsoft PowerPoint, Eighth Grade Microsoft Excel, Ninth Grade HTML, Tenth Grade Adobe Dreamweaver, and Eleventh Grade Adobe Photoshop. I designed and prepared weekly lesson plans using Engrade as the Learning Management System for grading. 

January 2008-January 2011
Kennedy King College, 6301 S. Halsted Street, Chicago, Illinois 60621
Chair of Visual Communications: Managed the department budget, course scheduling, student recruitment and trained adjunct instructors. I taught graphic design courses Online and Face to Face in the program. Also, worked as an Instructional Designer developing a new curriculum with twelve course syllabi in Visual Communications, Fine Arts, Graphics, Website & Animation Design. I trained faculty in the Blackboard, Learning Management System.

August 1995-May 2007
Florida A&M University, School of Journalism and Graphic Communication    510 Orr Drive, Tallahassee, Florida 32307
Tenured Associate Professor of Graphic Design, teaching courses in: 2D Design, Print Advertising, publication design, website design, logo design, game design, portfolio, design business, and typography. I was engaged in the Faculty Senate, student workshops, design shows and field trips.

August 2004- May 2005
Art Institute of Pittsburgh

420 Blvd of the Allies, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15219 

Online Instructor: Taught online graphic design courses with lectures, synchronized discussions and project critiques. I designed an online course called Design Marketing. 

March 1992-June 1995
N-2 Design, Inc. 35 W. Wacker Dr., Suite 3250, Chicago, ll. 60601
President and Design Director: Owned and managed this graphic design studio located in downtown Chicago, in the Leo Burnett Advertising, agency building. Managed a staff of four in this graphic and exhibit design firm. Clients: McDonald's Corp., United Airlines, Quaker Oats, Museum of Science and Industry Chicago, Leo Burnett Advertising and Sony Corporation. 

PUBLICATIONS, RESEARCH AND PRESENTATIONS 

Publication

-Rasheed, T. & Allmendenger, L (1996), “A Conceptual Model of Interactive Exhibits for African American Children.” Visible Language Journal (Refereed journal) 31.1 (18-page article) 1996

Publication Agenda

- Rasheed, T., (2014), “Educational Motivational Strategies” Proposed Journal.

- Rasheed, T., (2015), “Games are a Learner Centered Experience” Proposed Journal.

- Rasheed, T., (2016), “Visual Literacy and Learning” Proposed Journal.

Lectures and Presentations

 - Workshop at University of Illinois Champaign-Urban: In 2018 I was invited to conduct a faculty workshop presentation for the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, Center for the Innovation in Teaching & Learning Department.  I designed an interactive question-and-answer activity online that questioned the faculty/learner's knowledge in Design, Games, Learning and Health. The interaction was designed with Adobe XD Experience Design software. Faculty utilized their iPhones to engage in answering questions.   Online Link: https://xd.adobe.com/view/5b3fb2cd-07b8-467a-726c-1827429f7d08-2d0e/screen/a4c70a87-0299-4c0d-8120-bb3d6a5a106e/iPhone-6-7-8-1 

-Nan Yang Academy of Fine Arts, 1998, Singapore, Lee See Sin, Vice principal and Tan Nguk Koon, Head, Design Department: I conducted a lecture and presentation to students and faculty: “Visual Communication Education in America.”

-UCDA, University & College Designers Association - Summit Conference–May 2009

I conducted a lecture and presentation for UCDA members at the conference in the School of Art and design at Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL.   

-Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, the School of Communication: October 2007 I was a invited guest speaker to conducted a lecture and presentation to faculty and students on "Visual Literacy in Education.”

-Lasalle SIA, College of Art, 1997, Singapore, Michel Fields, Dean:  I conducted a lecture and presentation to students and faculty: “Graphic Design Education” 

-State of Florida: Governor, The Honorable Jed Bush, State Cabinet meeting. Invited guests of the governor to lecture and conduct the convocation prayer, Florida State Capital Building, Tallahassee, Florida, September 2002

-Design Nation Convention, May 2000 (Organization of Black Designers) - Miami, Florida. I was an invited guest speaker to conduct a lecture and presentation to the convention titled “Visual and Interactive Learning.” 

-Association of African American Museums, Annual Conference 1994, Chicago, IL. I was invited to conduct a lecture and presentation on “Interactive Museum Exhibit Design Models for History and Science.”

Awards 

-AIU Online: (American Intercontinental University) Outstanding Faculty Service Award for 2003 and 2004 for online teaching and facilitation. 

-Dollars and Sense magazine "Outstanding Business Award" Chicago, Illinois, 1991 

-CEBA AWARD "Communications Excellence to Black America", this award is given to businesses who produce excellence in communications that target the African American community. Project: Black Achievers in Science, interactive Museum exhibit at the Museum of Science and industry, Chicago, Illinois, 1990, Client: Citicorp, Inc. 

INTERACTIVE MUSEUM EXHIBIT DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT 

Dr. Thomas Abdul Rasheed, PhD, Designer, Educator and Fine Visual Artist   

ADLER PLANETARIUM - 1990 Chicago, Illinois the Adler Planetarium commission me to design and construct this interactive kiosk exhibit. The exhibit called “Rocks from the planet Mars” displayed rock from the planet Mars that fell to Earth. The exhibit also contained an interactive menu for the Museum visitor to navigate to different information and display.  

CHICAGO MUSEUM OF BROADCAST COMMUNICATION - 1991, Chicago, Illinois the Chicago Museum of Broadcast Communication commission me to design an interactive and time-line photo exhibit on the life of former Mayor of Chicago, The Honorable Harold Washington.  

DUSABLE MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY 

Censorship and Black America Exhibit- 1986 Chicago, Illinois This Museum exhibit was commission by DuSable Museum and that focused on the censorship of the African American community by the United States government. The 2,000 Square foot exhibit displayed: photography, publications, art, pamphlets, manuscripts and other artifacts.  

Round House Exhibit - 2010 Chicago, Illinois DuSable Museum commission me to design this exhibit call “The Round House Exhibit that displayed the architecture drawings a 3D model of the DuSable expansion plan. The exhibit displayed photos of architecture renderings of elevation views and perspective drawing of the interior and exterior of the new 40,000 square foot expansion project.   

MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY, Chicago, Illinois 

I designed the following Museum exhibits for the Museum of Science and Industry Chicago.  

Music, Music, Music, 1990 – I designed graphic panels and 3D structures which profiled nine famous artists in jazz blues and gospel music. The 3D exhibit was housed in a 5,000 sq ft space. A brief bio of each artist was included on each panel and super-size 8 feet photos were displayed.  

Black Achievers in Science, 1987 -1995. I designed a 5,000 square foot traveling exhibit that profiled 16 African American scientists. The exhibit had four areas of science: Engineering, Life science, mathematics and physical science. Four scientists were represented in each area. I also designed an intrinsic hands-on interactive activity for each scientist, that demonstrated their area of focus. A graphic system was realized with the brochures, booklets, street banners, print advertisements and posters, brief bios of each scientist was included on each panel. Sponsored by Citibank the traveling exhibit toured to the following science Museum locations in the United States: -Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago 1989-1991 -Boston Museum of Science 1993 -Louisville Museum of Natural History & Science 1994 -The Science & Technology Museum of Atlanta 1995 -California Museum of Science And Industry 1992  

African American Doctors,1992 – I designed a 4,000 square foot exhibit profiling African American Medical Doctors. This exhibit was designed with photos, typography and illustrations. Brief bios of each doctor was also included in each exhibit panel.   

African Science from Ancient to the Future, 1993 - This exhibit was designed with 30 4' X 4’-foot wall panels. The 120-foot time -line exhibit featured ancient African science and modern African American science. Photos, typography and illustrations were designed on each panel. 

REFERENCES

Wei-Chen Hung, Ph.D., Chair and Professor 

Educational Technology, Research & Assessment, College of Education,

Northern Illinois University
1425 W. Lincoln Hwy., DeKalb, Illinois, 60115 

whung@niu.edu (815) 753-9339 

Dr. Wei-Chen Hung and I have been acquainted for seven years. He served as my Professor, Graduate Adviser and Chair of my PhD dissertation committee at Northern Illinois University. Wei-Chen was also my supervisor when I taught online courses in the Educational Technology, Research & Assessment Division in the College of Education at Northern Illinois University.

Clyde El-Amin, M.S., Retired President of Kennedy King College 

4527 S. Drexel Blvd, Chicago, Illinois 60653

clydekelamin@att.net 312-391-5606

I have known Clyde El-Amin for over twenty years. He served as my administrator and the president when I chaired and taught in the Visual Communication program at Kennedy King College in Chicago. Clyde was also Principal of Clara Muhammad High School where I taught Art and Graphics.

Jacquie Hood Martin, Ph.D.
President /C.E.O. J. Hood & Associates
1327 W. Washington, Suite 102B Chicago, Il. 60607       

 jacquie@jacquiehood.com (312) 214-7055 or (469) 337-5260              

Dr. Jacquie Hood Martin and I have known each other for ten years. She has served as my Dean and Adviser when I chaired and taught in the Visual Communication program at Kennedy King College, Chicago. Jacquie and I worked together when I designed the new twelve course Visual Communication Curriculum in the Media Communication Department at Kennedy King College.