Curriculum Vitae
Education
MFA in Design–Innovation Studies
University of North Texas
Thesis: Where’s the Design in Design Research?
Advisers: Michael Gibson and Keith Owens
BFA in Design Communication
Texas Tech University
BA in English–Creative Writing
Texas Tech University
Professional Experience
Associate Professor, Communication Design
Department of Art, Miami University
Affiliate Faculty, Department of Emerging Technology in Business + Design
Miami University
Assistant Professor, Communication Design
Department of Art, Miami University
Creative Director
Dennis Cheatham Design
Lake Dallas, Texas
Graphic Designer and Art Director
Irving Bible Church
Irving, Texas
Roles
Graduate Council Representative
Miami University Graduate School
Alternate, Representing the College of Creative Arts
Research Fellow, Scripps Gerontology Center
Miami University
Coordinator, Communication Design Area
Department of Art, Miami University
Graduate Director, MFA in Experience Design
Department of Art, Miami University
Alumni Teaching Scholar
Center for Teaching Excellence
Miami University
Research
Book Chapters
“User Experience” entry in Keywords in Making: A Rhetorical Primer
Edited by Jason Tham, Department of Writing Studies, University of Minnesota • Contains over 130 entries • Parlor Press. (In Press)
Rewarding Risk: Exploring How to Encourage Learning that Comes from Taking Risks.
In Re: Research, Volume 1: Teaching and Learning Design, edited by G. Muratovski & C. Vogel, Intellect Books & Journals, Bristol, United Kingdom publisher.
Journal Publications
Cheatham, D. (2023). A design education toolkit for ideating experience design effects.
Journal of Futures Studies. (In Press)
Heid, A. R., Heppner, A., Cheatham, D., VanHaitsma, K., & Abbott, K. M. (2022). Emotion-focused
communication training online: Development and evaluation of acceptability. Gerontology & Geriatrics Education, 1–14.
Cheatham, D. M. (2018). A Necessary Shift: Embracing Research and Front-End Coding for Experience-Focused Graphic Design. Graphic Design Journal, 7, 62-73.
Cheatham, D. M. (2017). A Multiple Intelligences Model for Design: Developing the Ways Designers Think as Design Disciplines Expand. Dialectic, 1(2), 75-100.
Cheatham, D. M. (2017). Experience Design: Embracing Transdisciplinarity. Iterations: Design Research and Practice Review, 1(5), 22-27.
Conference Proceedings
A Digital Toolkit for Training Hyper-Observant Experience Design Researchers
HCI International 2023. 12th International Conference on Design, User Experience and Usability. July 23–28, Copenhagen, Denmark. Proceedings will be published by Springer.
Cheatham, D. (2023). Learning Lenses: Four Theories for Interpreting Experience Design Scenes. In A. Larocchi (Ed.), Applying Education in a Complex World: Teaching and Learning (pp. 131–141).
AMPS.
Cheatham, D. M. (2017, October 31-November 3). Rewarding Risk: Exploring How to Encourage Learning that Comes from Taking Risks. Proceedings from IASDR 2017: Re: Research, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Cheatham, D. M. (2015, November 19-22). Learning to Fail: How to Make Failing Part of Learning. Proceedings from Lilly Conference on College Teaching, Oxford, Ohio.
Conference Presentations
A Digital Toolkit for Training Hyper-Observant Experience Design Researchers
HCI International 2023. 12th International Conference on Design, User Experience and Usability
Copenhagen, Denmark, July 23–28
Learning Lenses: Four Theories for Interpreting Experience Design Scenes
Applying Education in a Complex World Conference
Sheridan College, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, April 26-28, 2023
Beyond UX: Designing for Complete Experiences
AIGA Design Conference, Design Education Symposium
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (held online), November 12–14, 2020
Learning Ethics Firsthand Through Design Research Methods
SECAC 2019 Conference
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, Tennessee, October 16–19, 2019
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, January 23–25, 2019
Transdisciplinary, Translocation, Transmedia: Designing Graduate-Level Distance-Learning
in Experience Design
Digitally Engaged Learning Conference
York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, September 20–22, 2018
Cincinnati, Ohio, April 4–7, 2018
with Living Values research team, Dr. Jennifer Heston and Dr. Catherine Sherron
Science Rules: Why Design Research Needs Scientific Research Classifications
Design Incubation Colloquium 3.3
Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, March 11, 2017
Rewarding Risk: Exploring How to Encourage Learning that Comes from Risking Failure
International Association of Societies of Design Research (IASDR) Conference
University of Cincinnati, DAAP, Cincinnati, Ohio, October 31-November 3, 2017
Integrating Experience-Focused Design Education: Beyond DIV Tags, Dropdowns, and Devices
Nuts + Bolts: AIGA Design Educators Conference
Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, June 14–16, 2016
Research Your Way Into Users’ Hearts
HOW Interactive Design Conference
San Francisco, California, September 20–22, 2015
Designers as Users: Switching Roles to Teach Critical Thinking in Design Education
New Ventures: Intersections In Design Education AIGA Design Educators Conference
Portland, Oregon, September 11-14, 2014
A Necessary Shift: Engaging Coding In Graphic Design Education
PICA Conference, Society of Graphic Designers of Canada, Alberta North Chapter
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, May 7-9, 2014
Invited Presentations & Workshops
Preparing for the MFA Thesis: an Aspects of Experiences for Design Workshop
The Ohio State University MFA in Design Students
October 12, 2021
Invited by Assistant Professor Yvette Shen
5 Ways Experience Design can Revolutionize Your Organization
Miami University Alumni Association
Online
Experience Design: A Primer – Workshop
Seton Hall University, Web Design II course
Online presentation, April 21, 2020
Invited by Assistant Professor Christine Lhowe
Response and Adaptation for Online Teaching 1.0
Design Incubation
March 25, 2020
Panelist. Online panel discussion for design educators
Event available on YouTube
Art Talk: Beyond UX: Designing Complete Experiences
George Fox University, Newberg, Oregon, February 2–4, 2020
Art Talk presenter at Chehalem Cultural Center
Beyond UX: Designing Complete Experiences
Cincinnati, Ohio, September 24, 2019
Designing Tools for Good (Research) Workshop
University of Dayton Graphic Design students
Dayton, Ohio, November 8, 2018
Invited by Assistant Professor Misty Thomas-Trout
What’s Trending in Design?
Learning In Retirement Program
The Knolls, Oxford, Ohio
Most Likely to Succeed: Project-Based Learning Film and Panel
Miami University College of Education, Health & Society with McGuffey Montessori School
Miami University
Facing the Blank Canvas: How to Start Designing
AIGA Cincinnati Student Engagement Design Forum
Cincinnati, Ohio
Discovery Cafe: Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
Miami University Office for the Advancement of Research and Scholarship (OARS)
King Library, Miami University
Design is Not About Design, It’s About People
Contemporary Art Forum
Miami University, Department of Art
Fellowships
Learning to Fail: How to Make Failing Part of Learning
35th Annual Lilly Conference on College Teaching
Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, November 18-22, 2015
Plenary Speaker
Selected Research Projects
Creative Director and Research Advisor, OMA: Opening Minds Through Art
with Dr. Elizabeth J. Lokon for the Opening Minds Through Art project with Scripps Gerontology Center researchers.
Developing and designing ScrippsAVID, a website application which will make OMA available to people remotely via the web. Launching in 2023.
Creative Director, Preference Based Living (PELI) Research Project
Researching and Designing Meaningful End-of-Life Decisions
with Jennifer Heston (Miami University), Cate Sherron (Thomas More University)
Rewarding Risk: Exploring How to Encourage Learning that Comes from Risking Failure
Researching the Barriers Between Men and Mental Health Care
Building Evidence for the Our Family, Our Way Communication and Care Coordination Process for Caregiving Families: Refinement and Dissemination
Water Conservation Can Be Fashionable: An Attitudinal Approach to Reducing Water Overuse in the United States
with Rebeca Carranza, Holly Cole, John Hicks, Jeff Joiner, Michelle Keefer, Tim Woodring, XuHao Yang
The City of Owasso Character Initiative
with John Hicks, Michelle Keefer and XuHao Yang 
Evaluating the Dynamics, Processes, and Culture of the Cook Children’s Medical Center Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Fort Worth, Texas
supporting Professors Michael Gibson and Keith Owens
Extending Family Education via Electronic Media
supporting Professors Michael Gibson and Keith Owens
Improving Student Success: Researching How Students Use Electronic Library Resources
with University of North Texas Anthropology Masters’ Candidates and Dr. Lisa Henry
Small Business Behaviors and Attitudes
with University of North Texas Anthropology Masters’ Candidates and Dr. Susan Squires
Awards
2nd Place Award in Social and Behavioral Sciences Category
University of North Texas Graduate Exhibition
Water Conservation Can Be Fashionable: An Attitudinal Approach to Reducing Water Overuse in the United States
Bronze Medal
Dallas Society of Visual Communications Dallas Show
The Great Map of Christmas Songs for Chatter Magazine
American Graphic Design Award
Graphic Design USA
Innovate Magazine, Fall/Winter 2007, HKS Architects
American Graphic Design Award
Graphic Design USA
Mexico 5 Invitation, HKS Architects
Professional Membership
EXPRESSO Experience Research Society
The Design Society
Design Research Society
AIGA, the professional association for design
Interaction Design Association (IxDA)
SECAC (formerly the Southeastern College Art Conference)
Dallas Society of Visual Communications
Teaching
Graduate Courses
ART 627, Design Research Methods
Hybrid
Study of primary and secondary research methods including interviews, observations, and focus groups. Research ethics, data analysis, and evidence-based design are covered.
ART 650 A, Experience Design Studio (Setting)
Hybrid
Explores ways aspects of environment and things out of a designer’s control can affect peoples’ experiences when they use products, services, and systems. Outcomes integrate media and include products, services, and systems. Includes four travel days to different U.S. locations for on-site learning.
ART 650 B, Experience Design Studio (Meaning-Making)
Hybrid
Explores ways aspects of a person’s mental and physical makeup affect their experience when using products, services, and systems. Outcomes integrate media and include products, services, and systems. Includes four travel days to different U.S. locations for on-site learning.
ART 650 C, Experience Design Studio (Motivation)
Hybrid
Explores ways aspects of a person’s relationships and attitudes affect their experience when using products, services, and systems. Outcomes integrate media and include products, services, and systems. Includes four travel days to different U.S. locations for on-site learning.
ART 650 D, Experience Design Studio (Interaction)
Hybrid
Explores ways aspects products, services, and systems—the ways they are designed—affect peoples’ expereince when using design. Outcomes integrate media and include products, services, and systems. Includes four travel days to different U.S. locations for on-site learning.
ART 436/536, Applied Experience Design: Walt Disney World
Study Away + Online
Online study introduces designing for multi-sensory experiences through a study of theme park design. Includes one week at the Walt Disney World Resort where students document products, services, and systems to learn design’s potential for facilitating usability, accessibility, and delight.
ART 623, Writing for Design Audiences
Online
Develops writing skills for academic publishing, grant writing, UX writing, virtual assistants, and popular media outlets.
ART 626, Designing for Access
Online
Approaches goal formulation and problem definition for experience-centered design with usability and access as primary drivers. Projects develop sensitivity to different needs, cultural and lifestyle diversity, socioeconomic status, literacy, globalization, sustainability, and other aspects of design when it impacts people of diverse needs. Particularly focuses on developing innovative interventions that enable access for marginalized people groups who have not been equitably served by design.
ART 700, Experience Design Thesis
Online
Cohort-based course that covers development of research topics, research design, human subjects research review (IRB), intervention design, testing, and dissemination. Students develop their own year-long projects and take this course at least twice.
ART 626, Methods of Dissemination
Online
Develops skills for visualizing and communicating complex information to initiated and uninitiated audiences. Message framing, publication design, diagramming, and presentation skills are addressed.
ART 640, Experience Design Internship
Online
Students secure and complete an internship. Employers complete two evaluations of student performance and the coordinator evaluates this feedback to determine if students earn credit.
ART 625, Systemic Design
Online
Explores design impacts at personal and societal levels through study of systems design, social networks, and object oriented ontology.
ART 455/555, A History of Design
Online
A survey of design that emphasizes the interplay between designed outcomes and society.
ART 460/560, Special Topics Design Studio
Hybrid
Course topics change based on instructor’s research agenda. Reading and project work for this course emphasized the role of empathy in design.
ART 651, Systems Design
Face-to-Face
Explores design’s impact on experiences through a design studies lens. Topics include phenomenology, epistemology, rhetoric, as well as behavioral, communication, and
systems theories.
Undergraduate Courses
CCA 190, Creating with Generative AI: Shaping the Future
IMS 354: Intermediate Interaction Design
ART 254, Design Studio 1: Interaction
Face-to-Face
Investigation of the impact of technology on communication design. The influence of time and non-linear organization on a design solution will be carefully studied through various digital technologies
ART 227, Design Research Methods Basics
Hybrid
Introduction to primary and secondary research methods including interviews, observations, and focus groups. Research ethics, data analysis, and evidence-based design.
ART 151, Becoming a People-Driven Designer
Face-to-Face
An introductory course that defines the field and gives an overview of the professional design practice as well as the skills, thinking, and knowledge required of communication designers.
ART 354, Design for Use
Online
Explores how design decisions impact access for people of diverse abilities and cultures. Applies people-driven design approaches for problem definition, outcome development, and design outcome production. Special attention paid to usability, access, and how design can delight audiences while meeting their unique needs. Involves collaborative and individual project work to simulate human-centered approaches within professional design practice.
ART 453/MKT 442, Highwire Brand Studio
Face-to-face
A semester-long, group project that requires design and marketing students to research and design outcomes for a real client. Co-taught with marketing and Emerging Technology in Business + Design faculty.
ART 340, Communication Design Internship
Online
Students secure and complete an internship. Employers complete two evaluations of student performance and the coordinator evaluates this feedback to determine if students earn credit.
ART 355, Applied Interaction Design
Face-to-face
Introduces advanced human-centered design processes that emphasize usability. Covers UX wireframing, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP for WordPress template development.
ART 452, Senior Degree Project
Face-to-face
Students develop their own semester-long projects. Covers development of topics,
research design, human subjects research review (IRB), intervention design, testing,
and dissemination.
ART 254, Fundamentals of Interaction Design
Face-to-face
An introduction to usability in screen-based design. Emphasizes fluency in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for the production of responsive apps and websites.
ART 252, Image
Face-to-face
Covers physical and digital techniques for producing images that communicate compelling concepts. Includes intense Adobe Photoshop training, visual concept exercises, and basic publication design.
Independent Studies, Directed Research
The Future of Immersive Theatre as Experience Design
Amber Schultz, Experience Design Graduate Student
Arts in Communities Thesis Project Teaching Extension
Jeni Barton, Experience Design Graduate Student
A Look Into the Magic: Disney Design Project
Genesis Snyder, Miami University Honors Program
Immersive Design Technologies Toolkit Proposal Development
Jerry Belich, Experience Design Graduate Student
Dark Side of Balloon Multiplayer Video Game
Jerry Belich, Experience Design
Graduate Student
Channel Critical Design Piece
Jerry Belich, Experience Design Graduate Student
Augmented Reality Music Video App for Mad Anthony Independent Study
Ringo Jones, Experience Design Graduate Student
Utopia Room Escape the Room Project in Minneapolis, MN
Jerry Belich, Experience Design Graduate Student
U.S. Department Of Energy Race To Zero Student Design Competition
Supporting Faculty
Mentored two MFA Experience Design Students on the team
Thesis Chair
Major Curriculum Development
M.F.A. in Experience Design Degree
Director and Founder
Miami University
Approved by the Ohio Chancellor’s Council on Graduate Studies (CCGS) and the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE). This program is the only distance-learning M.F.A in Experience Design in the world.
M.F.A. in Experience Design NASAD Accreditation
Director and Founder
Miami University
Secured accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.
Miami Design Programs Restructuring and Renaming
Collaborator
Miami University
Renamed the B.F.A. in Graphic Design to Communication Design, restructured all
courses in the major and the minor in Communication Design to improve learning and increase efficiency.
Service
Journal Reviewer
The Journal on Excellence in College Teaching
Journal Reviewer
Dialectic, the AIGA Journal on Education and Practice in Visual Communication Design
Presentation Abstract Reviewer
Design Incubation Colloquium 4.0
Promotion and Tenure Reviewer
A University in the Midwest U.S.
Grant Review Board Member
AIGA Design Education Faculty Research Grants
Steering Committee Member
Connecting Dots AIGA Design Educators Conference
Cincinnati, Ohio
Board Member and Working Lunches Co-Chair
Dallas Society of Visual Communications