Jessica Barness

Jessica Barness joined the faculty in the School of Visual Communication Design in 2012. She has an MFA in Design with a minor in Writing Studies from the University of Minnesota, and an MA and BA in Studio Art from the University of Northern Iowa. She has taught design courses at the University of Minnesota and worked in design and research with Conway+Schulte Architects in Minneapolis, MN. Additionally, she practiced professionally for a number of years as a senior product designer and design development manager in Chicago, IL. Her research resides at the intersection of design, humanistic inquiry, and interactive technologies, investigated through a critical, practice-based approach. Further, she is involved in projects connecting sound studies and design.

Barness’ work been published in peer-reviewed journals such as Visual Communication, Message, SEGD Research Journal: Communication + Place, and Currents in Electronic Literacy. She is also the co-editor of Visible Language journal special issue “Critical Making: Design and the Digital Humanities”. Her work has been presented and exhibited, nationally and internationally, at venues hosted by organizations such as DHS (Design History Society), AIGA, SEGD (Society for Experiential Graphic Design), ICDHS (International Committee for Design History and Design Studies), UCDA (University and College Designers Association), HASTAC (Humanities, Arts, Science, and Technology Alliance and Collaboratory), and FILE Electronic Language Festival. Her creative works have won awards as part of Project Passion, College Book Art Association, and UCDA juried exhibitions.