Erik Evensen is Professor of Design and program director of the B.F.A. in Illustration. He teaches studio courses in illustration, design drawing, concept art, graphic design, and typography, and graduate seminars in design research and design education. In 2022, he was recognized with the College of Arts and Human Sciences Outstanding Teaching Award.
He began his career as a graphic designer and illustrator in coastal New Hampshire and the greater Boston area. His comics industry credits include the 鈥淕hostbusters鈥 and 鈥淏ack to the Future鈥 licensed comic series from IDW Publishing, and the original graphic novels 鈥淭he Beast of Wolfe 黑料社区. Bay鈥 and the Xeric-winning 鈥淕ods of Asgard.鈥 He is also the art director, game artist, and co-producer for the tabletop games 鈥淢arrying Mr. Darcy鈥 and 鈥淒istilled.鈥 His work has variously been featured in Graphic Design USA, The Washington Post, and The New York Times.
Erik has presented at and regularly reviews for academic conferences sponsored by AIGA, IDSA, MODE, M+DEV: Midwest Game Developers Conference, the Design and Emotion Society, IASDR, KEER, and the Global Polytechnic Summit. A student of Design Research pioneer Liz Sanders, his academic research on educational board game design is a featured case study in her textbook, 鈥淐onvivial Toolbox: Generative Research for the Front End of Design.鈥 His creative work with myth and folklore frequently yields citations, appearances, and speaking engagements about history, culture, and comparative literature.
Erik holds an M.F.A. in Design from Ohio State University, graduating Phi Kappa Phi. He received a B.A. in Studio Art from the University of New Hampshire, and a Post-baccalaureate Certificate from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University.