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, Graphic + Experience Design

Department of Art, Miami University

Miami University

Assistant Professor, Graphic + Experience Design

Department of Art, Miami University

Graduate Student Instructor, Communication Design

Department of Design, University of North Texas

Creative Director

Dennis Cheatham Design

Lake Dallas, Texas

Creative Director, Director of Electronic Media

Irving, Texas

Senior Art Director

Dallas, Texas

Graphic Designer and Art Director

Irving, Texas

Writer, Customer Relations

Dallas, Texas

Graphic Designer

Dallas, Texas

Roles

Director, Center for Artificial Intelligence

Miami University

Research Fellow, Scripps Gerontology Center

Miami University

AI Provost Fellow

Miami University

Faculty Teaching Associate

Department of Art, Miami University

Graduate Director, MFA in Experience Design

Department of Art, Miami University

Graduate Council Representative

Miami University Graduate School

Representing the College of Creative Arts

Alumni Teaching Scholar

Center for Teaching Excellence

Miami University

Research

Book Chapters

Cheatham, D. (2026). Cultivating Attunement to the Raw Materials of Problem Formulation. In M. Gibson and K. Owens (Eds.), Navigating the Landscapes of Design Research. Routledge.

Cheatham, D. (2024). User Experience. In J. Tham (Ed.), Keywords in Making (p. 253).
Parlor Press.

Cheatham, D. (2019). Rewarding Risk: Exploring How to Encourage Learning that Comes from Taking Risks. In G. Muratovski & C. Vogel (Eds.), Teaching and Learning Design: Re: Research, Volume 1 (Vol. 1, p. 105). Intellect Books.

Journal Publications

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. (2017). Experience Design: Embracing Transdisciplinarity. Iterations: Design Research and Practice Review, 1(5), 22-27.

Exhibitions

Design Workbench Research Portal Identity System

Oxford, Ohio

Conference Proceedings

Cheatham, D. (2025). Developing Human Experience Experts: Design Education’s Process-Centric Response to Generative AI. In Design, User Experience, and Usability Proceedings, Part V, Design, User Experience, and Usability: 14th International Conference, DUXU 2025 (pp. 37-54). Springer Nature.

Cheatham, D. (2023). A Digital Toolkit for Training Hyper-Observant Experience Design Researchers. In A. Marcus, E. Rosenzweig, & M. M. Soares (Eds.), Design, User Experience, and Usability: 12th International Conference, DUXU 2023 (pp. 388–400). Springer Nature.

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 Proceedings Series.

Cheatham, D. (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. (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

Arizona State University Polytechnic Campus, Mesa, Arizona. May 20-22, 2024
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (held online). November 12–14, 2020
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, Tennessee. October 16–19, 2019

HOW Interactive Design Conference

San Francisco, California. September 20–22, 2015
Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. November 18-22, 2015

Plenary Speaker

PICA Conference, Society of Graphic Designers of Canada, Alberta North Chapter

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. May 7-9, 2014

Fellowships

Fellowship Program, Book Authoring Track

Online. June 3–5, 2021

Workshops & Panels

Miami University Chemistry Graduate Students

Miami University. February 12, 2026

Archbishop Moeller High School

Cincinnati, Ohio. February 9, 2026

Researchers With Interests in Aging, Scripps Gerontology Center

Miami University. September 30, 2025

CREATE AI Mini-Conference, Miami University College of Education, Health, and Society

Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. April 25, 2025

Preparing Students for the Workforce Panelist

Ohio Academy of Science and The Ohio chapter of Project Kaleidoscope [PKAL/AACU-STEM] Conference

Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. April 12, 2025

What if Your Last Week Was Your Best Week? Workshop

Students in Philosophy 305: Philosophy of Human Nature

Thomas More University. April 8, 2025

Co-presented with Jennifer Heston-Mullins and Cate Sherron

Miami University Graduate School Graduate Student Development Series

Miami University. February 7, 2025

AI and Creativity in Teaching and Learning Workshop

Faculty Learning Community. Carl R. Ice College of Engineering at Kansas State University

Online. November 20, 2024
Online. September 6 and 13, 2024

Co-presented with Mandy Olejnik, Assistant Director, Writing Across Curriculum (Howe Center for Writing Excellence, Miami University)
and Rena Perez, Graduate Assistant, Howe Center for Writing Excellence (Howe Center for Writing Excellence, Miami University)

Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber Alumni Network

Cincinnati, Ohio. March 21, 2024

Co-presented with David Seidl, VP for Information Tech & CIO (Miami University)

The Ohio State University MFA in Design Students

The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. October 12, 2021

Seton Hall University Graphic Design Students

Online. April 21, 2020

Design Incubation

Online. March 25, 2020

George Fox University

Chehalem Cultural Center, Newberg, Oregon. February 2–4, 2020

Beyond UX: Designing Complete Experiences

Cincinnati, Ohio. September 24, 2019

University of Dayton Graphic Design students

University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio. November 8, 2018

Most Likely to Succeed: Project-Based Learning Film and Panel

Miami University College of Education, Health & Society with McGuffey Montessori School

Miami University. April 5, 2016

Commissioned Works

Miami University College of Engineering K–12 Outreach

Community Engagement

4th Annual Hamilton County Small Business Day

Cincinnati, Ohio. May 18, 2026

Hamilton County Small Business Workshop

Alloy Development Co., Inc, Cincinnati, Ohio. May 20, 2026

Miami University Pi Sigma Epsilon, Professional Fraternity

Miami University. September 15, 2025

Miami Alumni Association

Online. August 27, 2025

Miami University’s AI Fundamentals Online Course

Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. March 10, 2025

What if Your Last Week Was Your Best Week? Workshop

Lane Library, Oxford, Ohio. December 18, 2024

Ideate, Research, Create: Processes for AI Partnerships: Podcast Guest

This Is Howe We Do It Podcast, Miami University Howe Writing Center

Podcast. October 23, 2024

What I Learned by Assigning Generative AI and How You Can Do It, Too

Miami University 2023 AI Symposium: AI at the Intersection of Teaching, Learning, and the Future

Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. November 1, 2023

Death. Dying. Design. Research Roundtable Presentation

Scripps Gerontology Center 100th anniversary celebration

Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. September 9, 2022

Miami University Alumni Association

Online. April 8, 2021

Design Thinking Workshop for Project Chaos Program

With high school students from Cincinnati-Area schools: Mason, Lakota, Loveland, Middletown, and Butler Tech high schools

King Library, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio

What’s Trending in Design?

Learning In Retirement Program

The Knolls, Oxford, Ohio. October 4, 2017

Ignite Your Design Career With UX Panelist

Cincinnati Design Week: AIGA and IxDA

Cincinnati, Ohio. September 26, 2016

Discovery Cafe: Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

Miami University Office for the Advancement of Research and Scholarship (OARS)

King Library, Miami University

Facing the Blank Canvas: How to Start Designing

AIGA Cincinnati Student Engagement Design Forum

Cincinnati State University, Cincinnati, Ohio. September 30, 2015

Design is Not About Design, It’s About People

Contemporary Art Forum

Miami University, Department of Art

Interviews, Magazine Stories, Website Posts, Citations

The New York Times

February 18, 2024

Features ScrippsOMA work I supported as a web developer and experience designer.

Miami Design Class Ripe for These Times

Journal-News

April 22, 2020

The New York Times

February 2, 2016

Interviewed about my evaluation of Nielsen’s short-sighted design research methods.

Thoughts on Communication Design and UX Education

HOW Design website

March 27, 2015

Selected Research Projects

Design Researcher and Web Developer

Center of Excellence in Literacy, Advancement, Education, and Development (MU-LEAD)

Miami University

Member of a team of education researchers in developing a co-created web app that delivers professional development resources for Ohio teachers.

with Jennifer Heston (Miami University), Cate Sherron (Thomas More University)

Web Developer and Creative Director

Creative Director and Research Advisor

Opening Minds Through Art

Developing and designing ScrippsAVID, a website application that makes OMA available to people remotely via the web.

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

OhioX Member

EXPRESSO Experience Research Society

The Design Society

Design Research Society

Interaction Design Association (IxDA)

SECAC (formerly the Southeastern College Art Conference)

AIGA, the professional association for design

Dallas Society of Visual Communications

Teaching

Graduate Courses

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 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 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

ART 254, Design Career Readiness and Portfolio Development

Face-to-Face

Preparing a portfolio that showcases students’ skills and career preparation activities.

ART 253, Design Systems

Face-to-Face

Synthesizes fundamental design and research concepts through the development of visual design for sequential viewing. Ideas of organization and clarity of communication, series and sequence, advanced typography, and visual literacy are addressed through complex systems-based projects.

ART 251, Typography for Designers

Face-to-Face

Page layout, typography for conceptual communication. Principles of usable typographic layouts.

CCA 190, Creating with Generative AI: Shaping the Future

Face-to-Face

Combines Design Thinking and Futures Studies methods with Generative AI prompting skills and making, enabling learners to apply Generative AI tools to extend their abilities when analyzing and solving complex problems.

IMS 354: Intermediate Interaction Design

Face-to-Face

The synthesis of design principles, usability, and technology is vital to successful interaction design. This course will leverage the exploration of emerging design processes and emerging technology to delve deeper into interaction design. This course challenges students to integrate design principles from a variety of domains to create user interfaces that surprise and delight.

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