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VISUAL COMMUNICATOR
CV
Computer Systems Institute - Skokie
BDM Instructor (2020-current)
Teaching courses in the disciplines of Graphic Design, HTML Webpage Markup and Social Media
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Chicago State University
Part - Time Lecturer (2014-current)
Successful development of curriculum and teaching courses
in the disciplines of Visual Communication
Effective transformation of the Intro to Multimedia class into one where students learn the finer aspects of graphic design, marketing and brand development
​
University of Massachusetts - Lowell
UML Instructor (2019)
Teaching online courses in the discipline of Graphic Design
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Columbia College Chicago
Teaching Artist (2015-2016)
Successful development of curriculum and teaching courses
in the disciplines of Comic Book Creation at Ravenswood Academy through the CCAP Program
​
DeVry University
Visiting Professor (2015)
Successful development of curriculum and teaching courses
in the disciplines of Animation and Game Design
Illinois Institute of Art – Schaumburg
Associate Professor (2001-2012)
Successful development of curriculum and teaching courses
in the disciplines of Animation and Video Game Design
Developed successful marketing strategies to increase student enrollment from 2007 - 2010
Maintains contact with various students now employed in the video game, animation, graphic design and comic book industries
Classes taught: Scriptwriting and Storytelling, Life Drawing,
Advanced Life Drawing, Animation Principles, Portfolio, Image Manipulation, Design Fundamentals
EXHIBITIONS
2021
Heroes: Principles of African Greatness
The Smithsonian National Museum of African Art •
Washington, DC
​
2020
Beyond the Black Panther
Michigan State Univeristy • Lansing, MI
​
2015
Unveiling Visions: The Alchemy Of
The Black Imagination • Group Show
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture • New York, NY
2013
4 Pages | 16 Bars: A Visual Mixtape • Group Show
The Silver Room • Chicago, IL
Comic Art Battle (Daniel Clowes Exhibition)
The Museum of Contemporary Art • Chicago, IL
Milestones: African-Americans in Comics,
Pop Culture and Beyond • Group Show
Geppi’s Entertainment Museum • Baltimore, MD
2012
Chronicle: The “Low Art” & High Concepts
of Jiba Molei Anderson • Solo Exhibition
Forte Gallery • Chicago, IL
100 Canvases for a Things That Matter •
Group Show
The Silver Room • Chicago, IL
2011
AfroFuturisticFly • Solo Exhibition
Forte Gallery • Chicago, IL
​
100 Canvases for a Better World • Group Show
The Silver Room • Chicago, IL
2009
The Afrosoul Chronicles • Solo Exhibition
The Silver Room • Chicago, IL
2007
Afrique Newsmagazine Gallery Show •
Group Show
The Hothouse • Chicago, IL
2005
Black Sci-Fi: A One Man Show
Illinois Institute of Art – Schaumburg • Chicago, IL
2003
Comic Books, Comic Strips, and Zines •
Group Show
Insight Arts • Chicago, IL
AWARDS
2019
Glyph Award (Pioneer/Lifetime Achievement)
ECBACC (East Coast Black Age of Comics)
​
2016
Glyph Awards (Judge)
ECBACC (East Coast Black Age of Comics)
​
2010
Glyph Awards (Rising Star nomination)
ECBACC (East Coast Black Age of Comics)
PUBLICATION INCLUSION
2021 - 2022
Access Guide To the BlackComic Book Community
George Carmona & Joseph Illidge • Neurobellum Productions
​
2017
Black Comix Returns
John Jennings & Damien Duffy • Neurobellum Productions
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The Encyclopedia of Black Comics
Dr. Sheena Howard • Fulcrum Publishing
​
2010
Black Comix
John Jennings & Damien Duffy - Mark Batty Publishing
animation
2015 - The Song of Lionogo: An Indian Ocean
Mythological Remix
The Smithsonian National Museum of African Art
​
2012 - Start A Fight music video
The Ex-Senators​
PROFESSIONAL
Griot Enterprises
CEO / Chief Creative Director (1999-current)
Creator of a company specializing in Comic Book Publishing,
Art Direction, Educational and Creative services including Graphic Design, Web Design, Animation and Illustration
​
Clients Include: University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago State University, The Chicago Academy of Music, Coca-Cola, Miller Beer
​
Onyx Path Publishing / White Wolf Publishing
Writer (2018-2023)
Staff writer for World of Darkness franchise specializing in character creation and world building for role playing game market.
Titles Include: Vampire: The Masquerade,
Wraith: The Oblivion and Mage: The Ascension, They Came From Beyond The Grave, and They Came From [CLASSIFIED]
Beaty Boy Records
Art Director (2016-2018)
Successful development of brand identity for an independent
record label including brand design, web design and package
design for label releases
​
The Smithsonian National Museum of African Art
Creative Director / Graphic Novelist (2014-2015)
Successful development of the graphic novel and animated short
The Song of Lionogo: An Indian Ocean Mythological Remix including script writing, illustration, package design and voice direction
​
Big Boots, LLC. / Universal Music Group
Art Director / Lead Writer (2005-2007)
Successful development of the graphic novel and motion comic book D’Cyphr: Unlocking The Code including brand design, script writing, storyboards, package design and voice direction
​
Graphic Designer / Production Artist (1995–2001)
Provided graphic design and pre-press services for various companies including DraftFCB, KBA Marketing, Ryan Partnership and other companies
PRESENTATIONS
2022
BIPOC Mythologies & the Speculative
Global Forms & Ancestral Identities
BIPOC POP
University of Texas at Austin • Austin, TX
​
2020
Radical Love in Black Speculative Fiction
Gwendolyn Brooks Library at Chicago StateUniversity • Chicago, IL
​
2019
The Power of Myth
Penn State Altoona • Altoona, PA
​
4 Pages 16 Bars: A Visual Mixtape:
SOL-CON
The Ohio State University • Columbus, OH
​
Graphic Lit
Chicago State University • Chicago, IL
​
2018
The Complexion of Comics
Dundee Library • East Dundee, IL
​
Liberation Imagined: Black Panther, Afrofuturism, and the Revolutionary Existence of the Black Superhero
Chicago State University • Chicago, IL
​
Afrofuturism: Rise of the Black Superhero
Woodson Regional Library • Chicago, IL
​
Comics of Color Matter: SOL-CON
The Ohio State University • Columbus, OH
​
2016
Fear of the Black Hero • With/Out-¿Borders? plenary
Kalamazoo College • Kalamazoo, MI
​
2015
The Song of Lionogo • A Series of Workshops
The Smithsonian Museum of African Art • Washington, DC
The Complexion of Comics • M.E.C.C.A. Con
The Detroit Public Museum • Detroit, MI
​
2013
The Griot Speaks! / Super Black
St. Louis Community College • St. Louis, MS
​
2011
3rd – 8th Grade Summer Program
Woodward Academy • Detroit, MI
​
2010
Race, Politics and Culture in Comics
The Smithsonian Museum of African Art • Washington, DC
​
Orientation
School of the Art Institute of Chicago • Chicago, IL
2005
The Self-Commodification of Culture
School of the Art Institute of Chicago • Chicago, IL
FILM AND Tv art CREDITS:
2021 - Swan Song
Apple+ film
​
2020 - Utopia
Amazon Prime television show
PROFICIENCIES
Creative Direction
Art Direction
​
Digital Wireframing
Print Design
Layout Design
Product Design
Package Design
Storyboarding
Concept Art
Character DesignPhotography
Photo Retouching
Traditional Pen & Ink Illustration
Copywriting
Scriptwriting
Blog Writing
Article Writing
Social Media
Editorial Services