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Teaching Approach
Growing Confident
Creative Professionals.
The business of graphic design is so much more than graphic design.
I strive to not (only) teach students the how, but more importantly the why. Having a why = confidence.
If they can take my why out into the world, perhaps it can be a light to help them discover their own why.
I had no idea what I was getting into when I started my first design job in downtown Manhattan.
I just wanted to design cool stuff! My rude awakening into the realities of our creative profession came
fast and hard. Luckily, I had caring, wise mentors to show me the way. Teaching is paying that forward.
The journey from Freshman
to Graduate begins with
learning basic aesthetic
skills of graphic design.
Each semester layers more
advanced skills to prepare
them for success in the professional arena.
One semester at a time.
Teaching Experience
Manhattan, Atlanta, Salt Lake City, Sarasota
Spreading the love.
Ringling College of Art & Design
Teaching at Ringling
A decade of learning and growth.
Course Samples
Just a peek.
Selections from three courses.
NEW MEDIA: MUSIC BRANDING | ELECTIVE COURSE | ELEC 353
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Creativity at the intersection
of art and brand strategy.
Using brand strategy practices, pushing students to
expand their creative thinking and design vocabulary.
Music Branding is a unique creative challenge. Music itself an art
form, but also a “product.” Creative solutions must be as artful and
emotionally evocative as the music it represents, while also appealing
to the “target audience,” the fans.
Students are guided to base concepts on brand strategy practices,
and push their thinking beyond expected trends and category tropes.
FOCUS
Rapid Concepting & Iteration
Category Research
Brand Positioning
Concept Exploration
Brand Development
TOOLS
Rapid Fire Assignments
Creative Brief
Creative Criteria
Presenting Criteria Feedback Guide
Project Progress Guide Rigorous Critiques
DESIGN FOR BUSINESS | ELECTIVE COURSE | ELEC 343
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Communicating value
through brand design.
Designing customer focused business offerings,
and developing compelling branding systems for them.
Students are challenged to define business offerings that solve real
human problems and provide value to customers. Via market research
they develop brand strategies to base all their design execution on.
Final programs cover brand identity, customer experience, and marketing.
FOCUS
Business Offering Design Brand Positioning
Creative Messaging
Concept Exploration
Brand Identity
Marketing Design
Product Design
Brand Development
TOOLS
Creative Brief
Mood Boarding
Creative Criteria Checklist Feedback Guide
Project Progress Guide Rigorous Critiques
VISUAL PERSUASION | SENIOR YEAR REQUIRED COURSE | GDES 420
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Finishing school for young creative professionals.
Nurturing graphic design seniors into confident professionals,
able to effectively and creatively solve their clients brand needs.
Students are challenged to adopt real-world frameworks to their
creative process: adding marketing, messaging, and client presentation
skills on top of their previously learned graphic design abilities.
Starting with market research and strategy development, students
create a cohesive marketing campaign designed to stand out
from competitors and inspire audience engagement.
TOOLS
FOCUS
Market Research
Brand Positioning Marketing Strategy Creative Messaging
Campaign Development
Persuasive Design
Persuasive Presenting
Creative Brief
Creative Criteria
Presenting Criteria Feedback Guide
Project Progress Guide Frequent Presentations
Rigorous Critiques
Learning Guides
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Tools for Better Learning.
Succinct, Specific, Understandable, Measurable.
I’m a huge believer in systems. If you can quantify a concept or a process, you arrive at a deeper understanding.
If you can integrate that understanding into your work process, then you free your energy to focus on creativity.
You can move beyond “how” and begin to ask “what if?”.
These simple tools have proven helpful in students learning new ways to think about their creative process.
Students struggle with knowing how to evaluate their creative work, how to give quality feedback in class,
and how to be prepared for reviews with instructors. These guides help them focus on the criteria that matter.
Criteria Checklists
CREATIVE CRITERIA
How to evaluate your creative.
PRESENTATION CRITERIA
How to evaluate your presentation.
FEEDBACK GUIDE
How to give good critiques.
REVIEW GUIDE
Agenda for instructor reviews.
Assignment Briefs & Rubrics as Instructional Texts
Assignment briefs act as mini-textbooks, preparing students on principles that will be key for success on
each assignment. Grading rubrics are detailed and aligned with principles in the assignment brief to ensure
students have extreme clarity on “success factors.”
ASSIGNMENT BRIEF
Sample.
ASSIGNMENT RUBRIC
Sample.
Class Schedule as Project Management Planner
Students often struggle with how to manage their work process. What should they focus on first,
and what should come next? The course schedule shows them exactly what prepare for, and what
they should be working on each week. This project management approach gives students a template
for planning future projects they’ll be responsible for, both academically or professionally.
PROJECT PLAN
As course schedule.
Faculty Reviews
Faculty Reviews
Quotes from various reviews.
“Brian is a tremendous asset to the department.”
He is capable of teaching many of our courses on sophomore through senior level electives as well as required studio courses. He has been a guest lecturer and outside critique assistant in studio courses. He is also a qualified and experienced instructor for Business of Art and Design, and his experience teaching in both departments is a net gain for either department in any class he teaches.
He is good at delivering established course assignments as well as creating and developing new
assignments that are fitting to the course. The organization and approach to each of the courses he
has taught has been a welcome influence on the structures of the courses.
“Students in his classes are challenged, actively engaged and enjoy learning from him.”
His lectures, lessons and feedback are instructive and engaging and the students enjoy learning with him. Students enjoy and value his thoughtful feedback and the immediacy of his professional experience.
Students in his courses become well versed in creating meaningful work and also in presenting it clearly and effectively to an audience.
Student Evaluations
Course Evaluations
Student Comments
Quotes from various class evaluations.
Faculty Reviews
Accomplishment
“This year started in a very low place for me.
How much you accomplished in this course.
I had no confidence in myself as a designer.
Your feedback, the way you led class; I'm ten times the person I was.”
“I learned more from one class with Brian
“I thought about giving up on design.
than in all my other classes combined.”
However, after this semester, I became more confident,
and I think I should continue to go on my creative journey."
Projects
“This was definitely one of the most helpful courses.”
Projects and activities helped understanding course topics.
“Brian clearly knows his stuff and is extremely knowledgeable
“At first, I was annoyed with all the presentations,
about brands and their influence on society; and did a wonderful job teaching us.”
but now I truly see a difference in my presentation skills.”
Concern
“Brian’s concern for students is outstanding.”
Instructor’s concern for student development.
“Brian really helped my self-confidence as a designer grow,
“Brian did an incredible job guiding students to success.
and really believe in not just me, but everyone in class.”
He went above and beyond in expressing his concerns for their greatness.”
Clarity
“Everything was planned and outlined very well.”
Concepts, projects, and information was communicated clearly.
“Schedule of deadlines was extremely clear.
“Brian tailored it where we could see the bigger picture.”
I knew exactly what to expect from each class each day.”
Critique
“Brian Carlock gives the best critique
Instructors evaluations and critiques assisted your learning.
“Critiques were always very encouraging,
I’ve been given by any Ringling College professor.”
“Brian did an incredible job pushing students to create their best work.
clear, and meaningful beyond aesthetic design.”
Providing useful critique, also pushing us to 'defend' our work.”
Effectiveness
“Jeff made the right choice bringing Brian in to teach this course.
In summary, effectiveness of course instruction.
I've learned so much from Brian. I'm sad we haven't had him sooner.
He gives great feedback, he knows what he's talking about and he’s a funny and nice person.”
“I wish I had Brian for all my classes.”
“An absolutely perfect choice to teach this class.
His instruction helped shape the way I approach my work process and created
an environment that felt extremely reflective of what an actual work environment will be like.”
PURPL the branding agency
Providing real-world opportunities.
As principal and creative director
of PURPL the branding agency,
I’m in a unique position to provide
professional, hands-on learning
experiences for Ringling students.
Via our internship program, or working
a freelance project, or ultimately being
hired into the agency after graduation,
students refine both their creative
and professional skills as they work
on real projects, with real clients.
Over 40 students, from a variety of majors have begun their professional journey with us at PURPL.
Graphic Design, Business of Art & Design, Creative Writing, Illustration, Film, Motion Design.
Abril Rojas
Alyssa Gibson
Art Morris
Avery Frost
Bee Tollison
Bella Erhamza
Ben Barnett
Cari Robaldo
Chelsea Van Beek Chris Campbell
Cindy Almonte
Deandra Martis
Ellie Winslow
Evans Csulik
Grace Whalen
Haley Burton
Hannah Crews Isabelle Drischler Jennifer Villagomez Jessica Iglesias
Jose Gayasso
Kassidy Hernandez
Kelly Campbell
Kristin Griffith
Laura Guzman
Leyla Wilson
Lochlainn Kane
Maddy Hodgetts
Marcella Wagner
Marissa DePino
Mina Sarapat
Nickela Winfield
Niki Freer
Noah Jennings
Paul Stauber
Robson Tan
Sam Grimm
Sophie Schonbach
Tekla Khantadze
Tyler Shea
Zach Timmons
